Preparing your own meals at home means you’re in control of all the groceries you use and able to adjust almost every recipe, making it as healthy as you want. Apart from that, you’ll be able to save more money by cooking everything in the comfort of your home rather than ordering takeout or going to a restaurant. What also comes as a big plus is that you decide on portions and control all the ingredients in the meal, which is crucial if you want to pay more attention to your daily calorie intake. Cooking healthier versions of your favorite dishes doesn’t mean compromising on the taste – it only means making a few simple changes and avoiding calories you don’t really need.

Internet is your new best friend

From Jamie Oliver’s TV shows about healthy food to healthy snacks and desserts you can find online, inspiration can hit you in a matter of minutes. This is the best way to find new recipes and learn how to make your favorite dishes healthier. People have a tendency to start eating healthily and then break that cycle when they run out of fresh ideas for their meals. This is usually a deal breaker you can easily solve by simply investing just a few minutes into contemplating your menu every day.

Change your state of mind

It’s important to break down the general idea that healthy meals consist only of vegetables and no meat at all. On the contrary, including meat in your diet is more than welcome given that it’s an amazing source of protein. With that being said, you need to throw away all unhealthy food such as snacks and everything else containing sugar and dangerous ingredients. Buy a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, stock up on the meat and don’t forget frozen products too.

Plan your meals ahead

We all live busy lives and usually skip meals, which leads us to junk food because it’s quicker and easier. If you have to leave your house early in the morning, prepare a breakfast in the evening or make a healthy smoothie that will pump you with enough energy to last until lunchtime. For lunch, you could make a salad, pasta or a sandwich with some fresh vegetables on the side, as well as a fruit bowl for dessert. Always keep your kitchen supplied with healthy groceries and make sure you have all the appliances you’ll need to prepare your meals – basic healthy cooking tools include a good set of pots and pans, a food processor, a grill and a couple of reliable Electrolux appliances to always be ready to cook healthy meals.

Cut down on these items

Even if you find healthier versions of your favorite dishes or new recipes, there are a few things you need to remove from your diet. First and foremost, this means that you’ll need to cut down on fats: the easiest way to do so is by using a non-stick frying pan and just add a dash of water instead of oil. You need to reduce the amount of salt, sugar, cheese, and mayonnaise, given that people have a tendency of using these ingredients to boost the flavor and think that a small amount doesn’t make a noticeable difference.

Keep everything simple

This sounds so simple, and it truly is – don’t overthink every meal and just keep it simple instead. If you don’t spend an hour thinking about it, you’ll make a healthy meal in no time without spending any energy. Don’t waste hours on making soup, but use a kettle, add some vegetables and once it’s cooked, make a tasty cream soup in a food processor. This way, you’ll eat something warm and nutritious, and won’t have to spend hours in the kitchen.

There’s no excuse for not cooking healthy meals and learning how to make your favorite dishes in accordance with your diet. You just need to be organized and, soon enough, this will become a part of your daily routine – you’ll cook this way without even thinking about it! By adjusting your lifestyle, you can easily lose weight and have more energy without constantly thinking about cooking and what you can and can’t use in the kitchen.  

Author(s)

  • Emma B. Joyce is a blogger based in Australia. She is a true home decor and DIY fanatic. Emma is interested in music and also is a big reading enthusiast. Finding new designs and patterns is her daily task. She got hooked on home accessories and decorations during her traveling and now cannot stop searching for new inspiration. She writes for www.smoothdecorator.com and http://carmanuals.org/