Heart Healthy Cooking

Tips, tricks and guides to cooking healthier, eating healthier, living healthier

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You do not have to be a master chef to cook healthy delicious meals. You just need to know the basics of actually cooking in a healthy way. Like always, you know I got you.

So what are some cooking tips?

- add a variety of fruits and vegetables to your meals

When you are cooking vegetables, try using a small amount of vegetable oil and add water in small amounts throughout cooking if you feel the vegetables need It.

- use a rack to drain off fat when cooking meats or poultry

- when purchasing meats, look for leaner cuts

- if you baste, don't use the drippings from the meats; use wine, fruit juice or marinade

- broil or grill instead of pan frying

- cut off all visible fat from meat before cooking

- remove the skin from poultry ( I know...It's delicious. I am just the messenger)

- to brown or saute foods, use a vegetable oil spray

- serve smaller portions of higher calorie foods

- use low-fat, low-sodium foods

Ways to make vegetables taste more flavorful

Try these combinations when cooking vegetables to create a healthier way to spice up the flavors. Start with small amounts of these herbs and spices and increase to your liking.

- Rosemary with peas, cauliflower and squash

- Oregano with zucchini

- Dill with green beans

- Marjoram with brussels sprouts, carrots and spinach

- Basil with tomatoes

Baking guide

When you're in the mood to bake some fresh muffins, cake, cookies or brownies and looking for a healthier alternative to oil, try pureeing fruits or vegetables in place of the oil. You would use the same amount of puree as oil, It just gives you a healthier option. For example:

- use applesauce in muffins or cookies

- add bananas to break, muffins or baked oats

- zucchini in brownies

Side note...writing this is making me hungry...

Dairy guide

Let me just start off saying I love cheese. Limiting intake on cheese will need lots of will power and support because I will need It.

Any-who. Recipes that call for cheese can be substituted for a low-fat, low-sodium cottage cheese, part skim milk mozzarella cheese, and many other low-fat, low-sodium cheeses. That is the key....low-fat, low-sodium.

Understanding healthier options for ingredients that aren't so healthy and trying healthier ways to cook can truly go a long way. You do not necessarily have to stop eating your favorite foods, just eat in moderation and don't deep fry your foods. At least try, you might be surprised!!