January offers up a great opportunity for giving your kitchen routine a revamp. I’m working on eating plenty of salads, drinking lots of water and topping my morning oatmeal with fresh fruit, but I also pay close attention to cooking practices for an extra fresh start.
These four simple techniques will help you cut back on sodium and fat, reduce consumption of meat, bump your intake of veggies and stay cozy in the chilly winter months. Bonus!
Here’s how to tackle your new kitchen strategy:
Add Veggies Like Whoa
Just keep adding veggies! This is the best trick in the book – take your favorite recipe and pile on the produce. Additional vegetables can easily be added during the cooking process, but top each serving dish with a shredded raw produce for an extra dose, like in our Indian Red Lentil Soup opens in a new tab. We also love the creamy, nutrient-packed sweetness that sweet potato purée provides in lieu of butter and sugar in our pot pie biscuits.
Swap Meat for Whole Grains
Small whole grains like quinoa, millet and bulgur opens in a new tab work wonders as a ground meat replacement in cold-weather-friendly meatball and meatloaf recipes. Go half-and-half to achieve the best texture. We also have plenty of deliciously satisfying veggie burger recipes opens in a new tab, too.
Steam Frying
You don’t need to cook with oil or butter to achieve beautifully browned, flavor-packed results. Our steam frying method starts with a dry pan and adds a splash of water or broth to prevent sticking. Use the method to start sauces and soups and even caramelize onions! Check out this video for the step-by-step method. opens in a new tab
The Sheet Pan Technique
Piling your entire dinner on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet makes cleanup unbelievably easy and means you can cook without using oil. Cooking individual portions in a paper pouch serves the same purpose and gently steams the food for a silky smooth texture.
What healthy cooking techniques do you call on most? Please share your tips and suggestions in the comments section below.
Hungry for more? Check out our Healthy Eating hub opens in a new tab for tips on choosing healthy foods opens in a new tab, healthy cooking techniques opens in a new tab and much more!
