Tips For Reaching Your Health Goals
As many of us know, our diet is the most essential component to reaching health goals. The food that we put into our bodies helps to heal us, reach our fitness goals, and power us through our days. Even though we have an idea of what it means to “eat healthy”, that does not mean that our meals have to be boring. The reason that Fad diets don’t work is because they are unsustainable; food is meant to be enjoyed, and can be a great sense of comfort and community.
There are a couple of tips and tricks that can make eating healthy easier, more sustainable, and most importantly, tasty! Even with time and budget constraints, healthy eating can be a task that anyone can begin to integrate into their current routine.
Tip #1: The cast iron skillet
Cast iron skillets have been used in kitchens forever. They are one of the most versatile kitchen tools, and are a secret for making everything taste better. The key with cast irons is that they are “seasoned” which means that all of the cooking done in them adds to the magic of the pan. They should never be cleaned with soap and water, so they naturally hold more oil than other kinds of pans. As you are cooking, they generally require little added oil which brings the overall calorie count of the meal down. You can cook most things in a cast iron skillet, and things like meat and vegetables taste so much better!
Tip #2: Meal prepping
Meal prepping is one of the easiest time saving hacks for busy weeks while still trying to eat healthy. It can look different for everyone. For those that do not like to eat the same meals everyday, simply prepping vegetables or proteins ahead of time can make busy weeknights more manageable. There are also shortcuts that you can take while meal prepping. Making casseroles, sheet pan meals, or minimal ingredient recipes can take extra work out of the process.
Tip #3: Season your dang food
While this seems like a no-brainer, there is a big misconception that healthy food needs to be bland, flavorless, and dry. Nope! Vegetables can be so flavorful and satisfying if they are given the chance. Steaming or blanching them until they are at their final thread of life doesn’t give them the chance to shine. Using a cast iron and seasoning the things going in it is the first step to actually enjoying healthy foods.
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be a chore and there are ways to take your favorite foods and make them more nutrient dense. Implementing the steps above are easy ways to make cooking and eating healthy easier, more accessible, and less of a time commitment. If finding healthy alternatives or changing your diet is a goal, it does not have to happen overnight, but setting yourself up for success is the only way to make it happen.