5 Ways To Make Your Favorite Meals Healthier
April 3, 2019
We all have our favorite comfort foods whether that is a bowl of creamy macaroni and cheese, a big slice of sausage pizza, or a bowl of spaghetti with meatballs. But, if you are trying to make healthier food choices, enjoying your favorite meals can feel like cheating.
While there is nothing wrong with an occasional splurge, it cannot hurt to make a few healthy substitutions and see how you enjoy them. If you enjoyed the modified healthier version, then there’s no reason you cannot eat it more often.
But how do you make your favorite meal healthier?
If your favorite meal contains rice (like chicken a la king or beef and broccoli) try substituting riced cauliflower instead. Riced cauliflower is much lower in carbohydrates than traditional white rice and is a much healthier choice for anyone that is diabetic. You will need either a box grater or a food processor.
If you’re craving a big slice of sausage pizza, there are a couple of things that you can do to make it a bit healthier. You can make buy a cauliflower crust instead of the traditional pizza crust to lower the carbs. You can also eliminate the sausage and try topping your pizza with onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and chopped tomatoes. If you cannot completely give up the sausage, try cutting the amount in half.
If your favorite meal involves frying, one of the ways you can make it healthier is by reducing the amount of fat. You should be able to completely eliminate added fat when frying by using a high quality non-stick frying pan. Just be sure to look for a non-toxic cookware brand.
Did you know that you can skip the added salt in most recipes that you cook? Many people need to watch their sodium content and that can be tough to do if you’re not used to it. The first step is to cut way back on processed foods. The next step is to stop adding salt when cooking your meals.
Eating a diet that is high in fiber can help with your digestion. But, it can also help you stay at a healthy weight. Try substituting a whole grain bread for white bread in your sandwich. You can also add chunks of vegetables to spaghetti sauce. Or try dipping your carrot sticks or tortilla chips in guacamole instead of in dip. Avocado (which is what you use to make guacamole) is very high in fiber and great for your heart.
