Sunday, January 10, 2010

Healthy Cooking Tips

By Carole S. Guinane
More and more, Americans are avoiding the kitchen and relying on the convenient yet fattening fare offered at fast food restaurants and other national chains. While most people are aware that cooking at home is an effective way to save money, many of us ignore the fact that preparing our own meals can be beneficial to our health, as well. When taking steps to prepare meals in the healthiest possible way, you can not only develop a healthy relationship with food, but also probably have a little fun in the process. Most importantly for patients of weight-loss surgery, learning to prepare healthy meals is one of the biggest steps towards meeting long-term weight loss goals and maintaining healthy eating habits. The following tips represent just a sample of the many ways you can make the meals you prepare as healthy as possible.

Remove the Skin and Fat

Whenever you prepare chicken or any other type of meat, you should remove the skin and fat before cooking. Not only will you leave yourself the best-tasting portions, you will be able to avoid plenty of unwanted calories and unhealthy fat.

Cut the Oil in Half

If you prepare your meals from cookbooks or family recipes, add only half the amount of oil listed - or less - to all of your dishes. Though many cooking oils - such as olive, safflower, sesame and canola - contain unsaturated fats that can help lower cholesterol levels, these additives can also pack plenty of calories that can jeopardize your weight loss goals. If you consume these oils in moderation, you will be able to obtain the healthy benefits, retain the taste of your meals and stick to your weight loss goals.

Coat Your Pans with Cooking Spray or Chicken Broth

One of the easiest ways to avoid excess consumption of such cooking oils is to use cooking sprays and chicken broth instead. When sautéing meat or vegetables on the stovetop, coat your pans with a fat-free cooking spray or healthy chicken broth instead of traditional oils. Once you perfect the simple art of healthy sautéing, you will be able to enjoy meals that are not only healthier, but more delicious.

Pour in Skim Milk Instead of Cream

Much like the suggestion to substitute cooking sprays for oils, using skim milk - especially the evaporated variety for weight loss-surgery patients - instead of whole cream can help you trim fat and calories from your meals. People may also be surprised to hear that buttermilk is also naturally low in fat and is available in low fat and non-fat versions in some markets. When shopping for dairy products, you should also stock up on low-fat yogurt to use in lieu of sour cream or mayonnaise and low-fat cheese instead of the standard variety. Thick, creamy fat free or low fat Greek Yogurt serves as a delicious replacement as well.

Use Applesauce in Your Baked Goods

For all of your baked goods recipes, substitute applesauce for any type of cooking oil. However, you should definitely try to limit your consumption of baked goods, especially pastries that incorporate large amounts of sugar.

Cook with Fresh Spices

Rather than dousing your meals with unhealthy amounts of salt, you should also try to learn the art of cooking with fresh spices. Not only will spices add an incredible amount of flavor to your meals, you can season your food without worrying about the potentially dangerous effects of salt. However, be careful of packaged seasoning mixes as many contain excessive amounts of salt, destroying the benefit of using different spices.

Find Healthy Ways to Prepare Your Meals

Even if you follow all of the previous tips, using the wrong cooking methods can ruin the healthy benefits of your meals. As a result, you should avoid such cooking methods as frying. Instead, try steaming your vegetables and cooking your meats on a grill or in the oven. Your microwave also represents a healthy solution, as most foods can be cooked thoroughly without the use of oils or fatty cooking additives.

As you perfect the methods of healthy cooking, you should also try to enjoy the entire process of cooking - from the simple activities to the aromas. You may even want to purchase new pots, pans, utensils or cooking appliances to help you make the most of your healthy meals. Eating should be a relaxing experience and allowing yourself to enjoy cooking will help you develop a healthy lifelong relationship with food. Many people find success by making it a family activity to teach their children how to shop, cook and eat healthy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carole_S._Guinane

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Become A Super-Chef Yourself - Watch Healthy Cooking Demos

By Abhishek Agarwal
If you are keen on learning the basics or even advanced cooking recipes created by professional chefs, the best and simplest way to ensure your practical education in this field of the culinary arts is by viewing healthy cooking demos! At times, many get confused with the instructions given in cookbook or the language is not something familiar to regular use besides the lack of visual and audio sync that cookery shows offers, which makes the viewing and learning an easy and enjoyable process for the beginner cook! Probably the reason why the picture's worth is considered equal to a thousand words and therefore the popularity of tuning in to healthy cooking demos is increasing too!

Well, that said, what is left to do is watching healthy cooking demos; you have a choice of renting a show, attending one or buying a healthy cooking demo version you like. At times, an expert cook you admire may be visiting and you can get to learn their techniques and secret recipes first-hand by attending the show. Those with more cooking experience can consider sharing their wealth of knowledge in a specialized cuisine area by holding healthy cooking demos in their locality besides benefiting from making additional income out of it!

However, if you are smart and have the time, you can search for free healthy cooking demos that are also available with a bit of effort; some resources for these free of charge shows are at vendor expos and exhibition of cookware products. The advantage here is you learn about the various types of utensils and appliances used for top class healthy cooking and also get to pick up new and varied recipes! By watching healthy cooking demos, you stand a better chance of learning how to use a new cookware product or tool along with picking up meal-planning and preparation tips.

Besides the above mentioned advantages to viewing healthy cooking demos, the scope for recording these and viewing them at leisure further enable a student-cook to understand an expert chef's method and techniques for preparing and presenting exotic or regular food, which is in-depth study at your convenience. Even the live cooking demos enable you to record or play-back certain segments while pre-recorded tapes in the market are an anytime cooking aid for those keen to try the same dish demonstrated by the chef at home. Some feel it's like having a personal cook teaching professionally the culinary arts we love to indulge in.

Thus, one finds that by paying attention to the methods and approaches to healthy cooking, demos and online shows can provide loads of useful information on cooking methods and recipe ideas for the learner besides boosting menu choices for you as each chef has a personal way of demonstrating the same recipe, bringing their personal touch to the dish.

Abhishek is a cooking enthusiast! Visit his website http://www.Cooking-Guru.com and download his FREE Cooking Report "Master Chef Secrets" and learn some amazing Cooking tips and tricks for FREE! Learn how to create the perfect meal on a shoe-string budget. And yes, you get to keep all the accolades! But hurry, only limited Free copies available! http://www.Cooking-Guru.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abhishek_Agarwal

Healthy Cooking For A Healthier You

By Juzaily Ramli
You love to cook, and you love to eat. But you feel like you're not doing it right. Somehow you know you need to change the way you cook. You eat and you gain weight. Yet there are others out there who eat such lavish dishes yet never seem to put on the pounds. You need to learn the secrets of healthy cooking. Don't fret, you can learn these easy healthy cooking techniques and cook you way to a better diet, better health and a better life.

It is relatively easy to find healthy cooking techniques which you can apply to your daily life. Just look it up on the internet, and you will find hundreds. Look at books and videos, and you will find even more techniques for cooking healthy. Just remember that cooking healthy is simple and will not alter your life. One of the most immediate technique that you can use is as easy as replacing your salad dressing. Instead of the usual high-calorie fattening salad dressings, opt for low-fat or non-fat dressings available readily in the market. This basic change will assist in reducing your intake of calories. Many of us would think that eating salads would be a healthier choice compared to say a burger. However keep in mind that if we drench our salad with the fattening dressing, our salad will contain more calories than that burger!

Hey, those low-fat and non-fat dressing tastes funny, you say. Or they are tasteless. Well, this doesn't have to be so. Another option is to have salsa, which packs a punch. Salsa is a fantastic alternative to fattening salad dressings. The appetizing salsa can help dress up any dish you have. Instead of salsa, you can also choose marinade. These no fat low calorie marinades instantly add a burst of flavor. Or you could have some mustard mixed with some soy sauce. This homemade dressing is simply delicious. Be creative and bold and try out new recipes.

If you're a meat eater and love cooking meat, you can have ground beef or turkey as alternatives to a healthier diet. One healthy cooking technique that you can try is to basically cook the meat and once that is done, to use a spatula to hold the meat in place while you drain off the excess oil and fat. Once you drain off all the unnecessary oil and fat, you can now enjoy your meat without the excessive fat content and calories. Your food will taste lots better and you will not be dragged down by the lethargic feeling you'd normally get from eating a greasy, fattening meal.

Healthy cooking techniques when put to use can improve your diet, your health and your life. And if you cook for others, you will be giving them the great gift of these advantages too! You will be in for a great surprise when you realize how easy it is to utilize these healthy cooking techniques in your everyday diet, and make room for a healthier you. If you're a meat eater and love cooking meat, you can have ground beef or turkey as alternatives to a healthier diet. One healthy cooking technique that you can try is to basically cook the meat and once that is done, use a spatula to hold the meat in place while you drain off the excess oil and fat. Once you drain off all the unnecessary oil and fat, you can now enjoy your meat without the excessive fat content and calories. Your food will taste lots better and you will not be dragged down by the lethargic feeling you'd normally get from eating a greasy, fattening meal.

Healthy cooking techniques when put to use can improve your diet, your health and your life. And if you cook for others, you will be giving them the great gift of these advantages too! You will be in for a great surprise when you realize how easy it is to utilize these healthy cooking techniques in your everyday diet, and make room for a healthier you.

If you've never really bothered about what you eat, it's time that you should consider eating healthy. Juzaily Ramli and his wife share tips and guide on healthy cooking recipes and vegetarian cooking for everyone

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Juzaily_Ramli

Healthy Cooking Tips

By Carole S. Guinane
More and more, Americans are avoiding the kitchen and relying on the convenient yet fattening fare offered at fast food restaurants and other national chains. While most people are aware that cooking at home is an effective way to save money, many of us ignore the fact that preparing our own meals can be beneficial to our health, as well. When taking steps to prepare meals in the healthiest possible way, you can not only develop a healthy relationship with food, but also probably have a little fun in the process. Most importantly for patients of weight-loss surgery, learning to prepare healthy meals is one of the biggest steps towards meeting long-term weight loss goals and maintaining healthy eating habits. The following tips represent just a sample of the many ways you can make the meals you prepare as healthy as possible.

Remove the Skin and Fat

Whenever you prepare chicken or any other type of meat, you should remove the skin and fat before cooking. Not only will you leave yourself the best-tasting portions, you will be able to avoid plenty of unwanted calories and unhealthy fat.

Cut the Oil in Half

If you prepare your meals from cookbooks or family recipes, add only half the amount of oil listed - or less - to all of your dishes. Though many cooking oils - such as olive, safflower, sesame and canola - contain unsaturated fats that can help lower cholesterol levels, these additives can also pack plenty of calories that can jeopardize your weight loss goals. If you consume these oils in moderation, you will be able to obtain the healthy benefits, retain the taste of your meals and stick to your weight loss goals.

Coat Your Pans with Cooking Spray or Chicken Broth

One of the easiest ways to avoid excess consumption of such cooking oils is to use cooking sprays and chicken broth instead. When sautéing meat or vegetables on the stovetop, coat your pans with a fat-free cooking spray or healthy chicken broth instead of traditional oils. Once you perfect the simple art of healthy sautéing, you will be able to enjoy meals that are not only healthier, but more delicious.

Pour in Skim Milk Instead of Cream

Much like the suggestion to substitute cooking sprays for oils, using skim milk - especially the evaporated variety for weight loss-surgery patients - instead of whole cream can help you trim fat and calories from your meals. People may also be surprised to hear that buttermilk is also naturally low in fat and is available in low fat and non-fat versions in some markets. When shopping for dairy products, you should also stock up on low-fat yogurt to use in lieu of sour cream or mayonnaise and low-fat cheese instead of the standard variety. Thick, creamy fat free or low fat Greek Yogurt serves as a delicious replacement as well.

Use Applesauce in Your Baked Goods

For all of your baked goods recipes, substitute applesauce for any type of cooking oil. However, you should definitely try to limit your consumption of baked goods, especially pastries that incorporate large amounts of sugar.

Cook with Fresh Spices

Rather than dousing your meals with unhealthy amounts of salt, you should also try to learn the art of cooking with fresh spices. Not only will spices add an incredible amount of flavor to your meals, you can season your food without worrying about the potentially dangerous effects of salt. However, be careful of packaged seasoning mixes as many contain excessive amounts of salt, destroying the benefit of using different spices.

Find Healthy Ways to Prepare Your Meals

Even if you follow all of the previous tips, using the wrong cooking methods can ruin the healthy benefits of your meals. As a result, you should avoid such cooking methods as frying. Instead, try steaming your vegetables and cooking your meats on a grill or in the oven. Your microwave also represents a healthy solution, as most foods can be cooked thoroughly without the use of oils or fatty cooking additives.

As you perfect the methods of healthy cooking, you should also try to enjoy the entire process of cooking - from the simple activities to the aromas. You may even want to purchase new pots, pans, utensils or cooking appliances to help you make the most of your healthy meals. Eating should be a relaxing experience and allowing yourself to enjoy cooking will help you develop a healthy lifelong relationship with food. Many people find success by making it a family activity to teach their children how to shop, cook and eat healthy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carole_S._Guinane

Healthy Cooking Tips For Your Family

By Susanne Myers
Do you sometimes feel like cooking, especially cooking "healthy" foods, is a chore? - Not to mention expensive. Or do you get frustrated at the end of the week when you have to throw away unused, rotten vegetables that you purchased to make a healthy salad and never found the time to put it all together.

Most households are just trying to stay above water. With our already over booked schedules, it seems impossible to add another task. Trying to shop and prepare healthy meals is not on our number one priority list.

But the truth is there is a little voice inside our heads that always makes us feel guilty about our eating habits. The fact is everyone really does want to eat healthier because we really want to be healthier.

Because of recent scientific evidence supporting the importance of a healthy diet for longevity and health, our priorities need revising. It is a fact that Americans have a hectic stressful lifestyle.

There may be little time available for healthy cooking. But again, the warning is clear - we must eat healthy in order to live lives free from the risk of chronic devastating disease. Eating healthier starts in our own kitchens. Cooking healthy nutritious meals at home is possible.

Healthy cooking will actually make our lives less stressful. The more we learn concerning nutrition, the more important it becomes to incorporate healthy choices into our lives.

Cooking healthy meals does not have to take up a lot of time and energy. With just a little and planning, cooking healthy nutrient rich meals will become second nature. Cooking healthy meals is the easiest way to keep track of the nutrients that your family is eating.

Rachel Ray has become a celebrity with her "30 Minute Meals" TV show. It is more than possible to get a good nutritious meal on the table for your family in under an hour. It would take you that long to get the kids together into the car to go to the neighborhood fast food joint. So put on your apron (don't have one?) and get to the kitchen, it is time to cook healthy.

Here are five quick ways to prepare healthy meals.

1)Include fruits and vegetables in your meal plans.

Fruits require no cooking skills but can be
prepared as deserts or added to salads.

Baked vegetables are delicious and nutritious and easy to prepare.

2) Use more chicken and fish, beans and nuts in your cooking.
Bake, steam, grill, or broil meats instead of frying or sautéing.

3) Reduce fats, use Olive Oil rather than saturated fats, trans fats.

4) Avoid products that have high sodium and excessive sugar content.

You will also save money by preparing meals at home. For those individuals who are concerned about their cooking skill, there is no need to worry. If you can turn on an oven or a microwave, you can prepare healthy meals.

Anyone can learn to cook healthy meals. There are no magic formulas or complicated diagrams required. Shopping healthier will result in healthy cooking which result in a healthier family.

For more information about healthy cooking for vegetable haters visit http://www.healthymenumailer.com/articles/healthy-cooking-for-vegetable-haters.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susanne_Myers