Cook Light and Eat Right

More and more people are looking into healthier cooking options, but few of us really know how to do it right. It\'s not just about eating less or trimming the fat off your pork chop. It\'s about changing your eating habits and training yourself to pick healthy foods not by principle, but by personal choice. And as you might expect, it all starts in the kitchen.

Cooking light is a lot easier than it seems. Contrary to what most people think, it doesn\'t involve giving up your favorite foods and making the switch to bland cooking. You can still enjoy the same flavors, only using different ingredients and sometimes different cooking methods.

Start by making small substitutions. Put mustard instead of mayonnaise in your sandwiches, or drizzle your salad with a low-fat vinaigrette instead of that creamy dressing. Eventually, you can substitute meat with more seafood or vegetables. Work your way up in small increments until you get used to eating leaner alternatives and even start liking them.

A popular saying says "don\'t drink your calories," and that\'s probably one of the simplest ways to eat light. Flavored drinks pack a lot of calories with very little nutritional value to make it worth it. Limit your liquid intake to water and tea, with coffee and diet soda in moderation.

The way you cook your food also affects how light you eat. Some cooking methods are obviously unhealthy, such as deep-frying and grilling. As much as possible, avoid cooking methods that involve added fat or grease. Instead, go for steaming, poaching, and baking, all of which give you the same amount of flavor without the extra calories.

Slow cooking is another method you may want to try. Because it cooks food longer, it concentrates the flavor and eliminates the need for additives like salt, pepper and spices. It\'s a great way to snip a few calories off each meal, as well as save money on key ingredients. And since you can leave it on all day, you can also save money by turning it on in the morning and just serving it by the time you\'re home from work.

You don\'t have to give up your favorite meals just to eat healthier. These tips show you how to make better food choices without missing out on the fun. Find more information about crock pot healthy cooking.