Kitchen Hacks for Healthier Eating

January 21, 2022

Let’s admit it—it is far easier to eat food than it is to prepare it. Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do to change this fact; however, there are tips and hacks to lend a hand in the kitchen to manifest healthier eating practices with little excess effort. Everyone’s meal goals and aspirations will vary, and the first step is zeroing in on precisely what you would like your new diet to accomplish for your overall wellbeing. Below you will find out how to establish and enforce your food goals and other helpful hacks!

What Are Your Goals?

Are you looking to revamp your kitchen habits because you’d like to lose weight? Are you searching for ways to mend a broken relationship with food? Are you attempting to explore more ingredients and methods of cooking? Everyone will have unique goals in mind when they are considering healthier eating practices. It is essential to remember that intention must come first before any change can take place.

Take a minute with yourself and catalog your thoughts, feelings, and experiences around shopping for, cooking, and eating food for one week. After you gather all this information, write down or memorize your unique and healthy eating food goals. When you’ve uncovered your intention, now the following steps can begin.

Plan, Plan, and Plan Some More

To embrace the changes to your daily food routine, you will need to understand the importance of planning. Often, we get overwhelmed juggling many aspects of life, and food usually receives the short end of this stick. Fast food and microwavable meals make our lives far easier in the short term; however, relying on these meals can create some severe health problems in the long term.

Pick one or two days out of your week to meal prep. Making large batches of a few dishes allows you to refrigerate, rotate, and reheat during your workweek easily. Start simple and try an easy, veggie-based pasta dish, tacos, and grain-based dishes that are fast and easy to cook.

Substitute for Flavor and Texture

Every meal we eat consists of varying textures and flavors—crunchy, sweet, salty, soft, chewy, and sour are just some of the ways we can describe a particular palate. To phase out specific fatty and unhealthy components of your meal, consider what the flavor and texture of that food bring to your plate.

For example, for a healthier, creamy alternative to a condiment like mayonnaise or butter, try avocado instead. To mimic the nuttiness of cheese, try a sprinkle of nutritional yeast and attempt to make at least one or two meals a day that do not rely on dairy. There are healthy alternatives available to transform your meal into a healthier version without sacrificing the flavors and textures.

Bulk Up Meals with More Veggies and Legumes

Some of us have the problem of over-eating. Instead of relying on heavy aspects of your meal like dairy or meat to bulk up your portions, add more fresh or sautéed veggies or legumes like beans instead. The added vegetables or legumes will add those satisfying additional bites without feeling overfull or lethargic. The added fiber and protein are also a major plus for both your body and your plate!

Reasons for a healthy lifestyle change are unique to everyone. Be intentional with uncovering your specific goals for your health and let your home kitchen guide your way to tasty, lasting benefits!