Adopting a Healthy Cooking Lifestyle

When it comes to healthy cooking, some people embrace it while other folks run as far away from it as possible. That leads to the question: What is healthy cooking?

Well, it all depends on who is asked the question. Ask a fast food junkie, and the answer might be something like, “Healthy food is anything with a carrot.” Ask a seasoned vegan and the answer might be, “Healthy food is naturally grown uncooked whole foods.”

Who is right? They both are. Healthy cooking is all about improving one’s diet to achieve optimal health. The fast food junkie might have to start by incorporating one or two carrots into her daily food consumption, while a vegan, who is further along on the healthy cooking food chain, has mastered the habit of eating clean, natural raw food.

Start Where You Are

Too often people unfairly pass judgment upon their less ‘evolved’ healthy eating brethren not realizing that they too can stand to make a few dietary improvements. People tend to forget that health, just like obtaining wealth is a one step at a time one choice at a time journey.

Before starting on the healthy eating/healthy cooking journey, one should stop and evaluate where to begin. For individuals who consider ketchup and mustard as two of the seven servings of daily vegetables, the starting point is a little different than one who drinks 8 glasses of water each day and eats fresh fruits and vegetables daily.

Take Small Steps

In order to ensure the new healthy eating and cooking lifestyle becomes a way of life; take it one small step at a time. For example, if you are accustomed to fried foods, try experimenting with grilling, broiling and baking instead of frying.

Likewise, folks who eat relatively healthy items should experiment with creating a few items from scratch. For example, soaking and preparing dry beans is healthier than purchasing canned beans. Similarly, home made breads baked from whole grains is a healthy alternative to store bought breads containing high fructose corn syrup.

Allow Taste Buds to Adjust

Changing cooking and eating habits is not always easy. Although the mind and the body appreciate the new healthier way of eating and cooking, the taste buds take a little while to get on board. Don’t let unsatisfied taste buds put an end to healthy cooking. Take the time to re-train them. Over a period of time they’ll come around. Once they adapt to the new way of eating, the healthy eating process becomes easier.

Always Experiment

The best way to sustain the new way of eating is to experiment. Let’s face it, even with unhealthy foods; eating the same thing over and over becomes boring. There are a host of healthy recipes available on the Internet. Take a little time, find ones that are easy to make and get started.

Since you can’t trade in your body after 7 to 10 years of use like you do a car, it makes sense to take good care of the body you have. 

Filed in: Nutrition