To create your favourite healthy recipe, a good cook must have a well stocked kitchen. Remember, the less processed your food the healthier it is. Cooking dinner at home results in a healthier meal and is more cost efficient. It is also easier to control portion size when you cook your own meals.
In your pantry keep on hand: dried and canned beans/lentils, whole wheat pastas, brown and wild rice, low sodium and low fat soups, and many herbs and spices. These staple cupboard foods are high in fibre and low in fat.
Here are some tips to decrease the fat and sodium in some of your favourite condiments. Try to keep these products calories to about 100 to increase weight loss results.
• replace KETCHUP for
SALSA in recipes
• replace BUTTER/ MARGERINE for
PICKLES/ CHOW and pour over vegetables
• replace CREAMY SALAD DRESSINGS for
OIL & VINEGAR varieties
• replace MAYONAISE for
SPICY MUSTARD AND PLAIN YOGURT in sandwiches
• replace HIGH FAT DAIRY products with
LOW FAT DAIRY products
• replace LIGHT PEANUT BUTTER with
LESS SUGAR ADDED JAMS on toast
It's easy to prepare your own sauces, marinades and salad dressings. Homemade salad dressings are healthier and contain less sodium, sugar and no preservatives. Include healthy oils in your recipe such as flaxseed, hempseed, walnut, extra virgin olive, or g rapeseed. Combine the oil with flavoured vinegars, fruit juices, low fat plain yogurt, fresh herbs and spices.
Rachelle asks blog readers: What is your favourite homemade salad dressing recipe? Please post.