{"id":4449,"date":"2019-03-29T04:37:21","date_gmt":"2019-03-29T04:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.liveyourlifept.com\/blog\/?p=4449"},"modified":"2019-03-29T04:37:21","modified_gmt":"2019-03-29T04:37:21","slug":"cooking-healthy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/liveyourlifept.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/29\/cooking-healthy\/","title":{"rendered":"Cooking Healthy"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve heard before\u2026 \u201cEat more fruits and vegetables\u201d or \u201cChoose lean meats\u201d. So you head to the grocery store and pick up a grocery cart full of fruits, veggies, and the leanest meat on the shelf.<\/p>\n

Step #1 is complete, you\u2019ve bought the healthy foods, but how are you going to prepare them, so your meals are still nutritious?<\/p>\n

In this blog, you\u2019ll learn some easy tricks to keep the healthy foods you want to eat, nutritious in the cooking process as well.<\/p>\n

Roast your vegetables<\/em><\/p>\n

This is such an easy and hands-off way to cook your vegetables.\u00a0First dice your vegetables. I like to use brussel sprouts, carrots, mushrooms, and potatoes. Place your` diced vegetables on a cooking sheet; next you\u2019ll drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Finally, cook on 425 degrees for about 30-45 minutes. Sometimes stirring\/flipping half-way through is necessary.<\/p>\n

Use vegetable oil instead of butter when cooking on the stove top.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Butter is a source of saturated fat, the type of fat that should be consumed in small amounts. Vegetable oils, such as olive oil, are a source of unsaturated fats, the type of fats that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and are great for brain health. Keep in mind, coconut oil and palm oil are also rich in saturated fats, so remember to consume these in moderation as well. So next time you\u2019re saut\u00e9ing some vegetables, frying an egg, or making some chicken, use vegetable oil.<\/p>\n

Add vegetables to your pasta dishes\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Do you have some favorite pasta dishes that you like to eat regularly? Perhaps the kids love spaghetti. No harm in that. One way to make these favorite dishes healthier would be to add more veggies. Try dicing mushrooms up and adding to your spaghetti sauce. Some people enjoy zucchini saut\u00e9ed with onions and garlic added in. You can also choose a whole grain pasta to \u201cfuel\u201d your body with the energy needed and get more fiber in your diet.<\/p>\n

Preparing meats<\/em><\/p>\n

Baking, grilling, or broiling are ways to prepare meats in a way that won\u2019t add extra calories during the cooking process. Chicken and turkey are the leanest meats to choose. But what about the summer days to come when you want to grill a steak? The more tender cuts of steak, like porterhouse or ribeye, are going to have a higher fat content. This is what keeps the steak tender while cooking. Sirloin steaks are going to be the leanest choice. If you find sirloins to be \u201ctougher,\u201d try marinating to add flavor and help tenderize.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a marinade for you to try next time:<\/p>\n

Ingredients:\u00b9<\/p>\n