Eating Healthy & Enjoying It

Eating is one of the natural joys in life. Preparing and anticipating a meal and enjoying its colors, aromas, and tastes are delightful ways of giving yourself pleasure as well as taking good care of yourself. I don’t know about you, but 90% of what and why I eat is because it tastes good. I used to think that if I wanted to eat healthy, I couldn’t enjoy my food, things just didn’t have the same taste. So often we think that if it tastes good it has to be bad for us. But it is possible to eat tasty things that are good for you. It’s just a matter of trying different things and having an open mind.
Eating right is a skill and not something that just comes naturally. There are so many options out there that are unhealthy. We have created an environment of convenience and high fat, high calorie foods. But it’s a skill that’s not hard to learn, it is possible - you just have to have a game plan. The first thing is to find foods that you like. Don’t be afraid to try different fruits and vegetables, your tastes can change. Just a few years ago I couldn’t stand cabbage or peppers, now I love them. The next step is to try different recipes. Talk with friends, check out cook books, watch cooking show, experiment, and try different spices, but don’t be afraid to try new things, the possibilities are endless.
There are some things to remember when trying to cook a healthy meal. Grilling, baking, poaching, roasting, boiling, blackening, steaming, broiling, or lightly stir-frying is healthier than deep frying and sautéing. Try to keep the amount of cream, butter and salt low. Broth soups are lower in fat than creamy soups, marinara and tomato sauces are also lower in fat than Alfredo or white sauce.