Tips for Healthier Eating

There is probably room in everyone's life for a little bit of better, healthier eating. Choosing to eat healthier may begin with changing our eating habits when we eat out, but that is only one facet of a large endeavor. Healthier eating habits can easily begin at home, simply by altering some of the ways that food is prepared. Cooking to eat healthy does not ever have to mean that your meals will be boring, either because there are many healthy eating tips which will actually enhance the flavors while improving your health! 1. Choosing cuts of meat which are leaner can do wonders for your diet. Try to substitute lower fat options into your meals whenever possible, such as chicken or fish. This does not mean you have to avoid red meat however, because there are much leaner options available to you, provided that you know what to look for. When you are out looking for meat options, look for the words 'round', or 'sirloin', which are naturally lower in fat than others. You should also choose cuts of meat with the least amount of marbling available, and trim off as much fat as you can before cooking. Most ground beef is available as 95-percent lean, which is your best option. Another great meat choice is pork, which is fairly lean by nature. Making healthy meat choices can cut a lot of unnecessary fat out of your diet, and will make it possible for you to eat healthy meat without stressing out about it. 2. If you are looking for new ways to spice up your old vegetables, you may consider adding a little bit of vegetable and chicken broth and sautéing them with just a little bit of chopped herbs. Adding even the smallest pinch of a zesty herb like chives can work wonders for the taste of your vegetables. Another option that is often overlooked involves roasting your vegetables, which is a great option for firm or root vegetables like squash or even cauliflower. Seasonings like curry powder, Italian seasoning or a Cajun blend are great if you are looking for vegetables with a kick. Simply slice your vegetables into sizeable chunks, toss some cooking spray and seasonings on, and roast either in the oven or on skewers in your grill. Sometimes all it takes is a new recipe to urge you to eat more healthy vegetables. 3. Healthy eating does not necessarily have to mean giving up any of your old favorite recipes either. Before you throw out your favorite recipe cards, try making modifications which can make the meal healthier. Some examples include using half of the prescribed amount of oil, or substituting applesauce in for oil in baked good recipes. If a recipe calls for cream, you can use evaporated milk, skim milk preferred. You can also consider removing the skin from any meats in the dish. There are many ways that you can substitute healthier options in to your old favorites so that your slightly less than healthy recipes can continue to lighten up your menu. 4. Do not even think about giving dessert up, simply by choosing to eat healthily! There are some wonderful things that you can do with fruit, such as mixing a bowl of berries and low fat or fat free vanilla yogurt for a sweet treat. Another favorite involves sautéed bananas which are sprinkled with a little bit of vanilla extract and cinnamon. There are so many things that you can do with healthy, fresh fruit that you will not even have to think about sugar-packed treats like candies and ice cream.