Healthy Ways to Cook

I was reading recently that the way we prepare our foods is as important as the ingredients we use. To get the best nutritional benefit and minimize potential harm from improper cooking here are four healthier ways to prepare your food:

Use a steamer - Steaming helps retain nutrients as opposed to boiling. This is the way I prepare a lot of my vegetables.

Use marinades - Marinating meats (particularly chicken) can reduce something called "Heterocyclic Amines"(HCAs). I don't know what this is but it sounds nasty! Garlic (something I use a lot of) and rosemary are great in marinades.

Use a slow-cooker - I haven't used a crock pot in years but it seems that cooking at lower temperatures may help preserve nutrients that are otherwise lost when food is cooked rapidly at high heat. Who knew! I may have to invest in a new crock pot.

When grilling, pre-cook the meat - Pre-cook the meat on the stove or in the oven.. Less time on the grill means fewer carcinogens in your meat. (I want to be as healthy as possible but sometimes there's no fun in it).

Together we thrive,

Jacqueline