Learning to cook a few simple dishes is the ultimate act of self-care and self-love. Experiment, have fun, and follow these suggestions for healthy cooking.
1. Fresh is best.
- Use the freshest and most healthful ingredients.
2. Local is even better.
- Look for organic, local, and seasonal foods.
-Visit your local farmers’ market or join a CSA – know who is growing your food!
3. Organic is much better.
- Keep pesticides and chemicals off your plate.
- It’s good for your body and for the environment.
4. COMMERCIAL PRODUCE IS OKAY.
- Organic and local produce may not always be available.
- Stay in the outer perimeter of the grocery store and try not to spend too much time in the inner aisles – that’s where all the packaged and highly refined foods are.
5. CANNED AND FROZEN ARE ALSO OKAY.
- Frozen foods are usually picked fresh and then frozen quickly, so they retain a lot of nutrition.
- Canned foods should be the last choice as they’re typically high in sodium and some cans have an inner coating with chemicals that can leach into your food.
6. KEEP IT SIMPLE.
- Save gourmet dishes for a special treat.
- Cook with 2–3 ingredients, never more than 4–5.
7. COOK ONCE, EAT TWICE.
- Prepare more food than you need for your meal and portion the leftovers.
- Wrap the remaining portions to freeze for future lunches.
8. VARY COOKING STYLES.
- There are many styles of healthy cooking: baking, grilling, steaming, quick boiling, stir-frying with oil, water sautéing, etc. Don’t be afraid to switch it up!
9. VARY FLAVORING AND CONDIMENTS.
- Use a lazy Susan packed with sauces, spices, and herbs.
- Encourage everyone at the table to customize their plate with their favorite flavors.
10. EXPERIMENT.
- Check out other people’s carts to see what they’re buying.
- Try new recipes and explore new cooking methods.
- Choose a fruit or vegetable you’ve never had before and challenge yourself to use it!
