The Basics of Healthy Home Cooking

As nationwide lockdowns continue two years into the global pandemic, you may still find yourself spending most of your days at home. While food delivery apps make it quick and convenient to buy lunch and dinner, the service fees can be quite expensive. Most of the cheap eats in these applications are not healthy, either. Now that you’re spending most of your time at home, why not try cooking your own meals? 

Home cooking can be a daunting task for some people. You may be worried that it takes too much time and effort. Perhaps you’re just not sure what to cook. However, learning to cook is well worth the effort, as it’s much more affordable than ordering takeout. You don’t have to pay for any labor or delivery costs. Plus, it gives you full control over the food you’re going to eat.

Here’s how to cook warm, healthy, and delicious meals from your Elisa Homes kitchen. 

Plan Your Meals

A common problem that many new home cooks face is time. You need to take at least 15 minutes to prepare and cook your meals. That’s over a quarter of your break time! One way to solve this issue is to plan your meals. Figure out what you want to eat for the rest of the week and cook it in bulk during the weekend. Portion them into microwavable containers for each weekday. Then, put the food in the fridge to keep it fresh. All you need to do on your work lunch is to reheat it in the microwave or on a hot pan. This process takes less than three minutes and best of all, you don’t have to spend energy cooking every day.

Buy Fresh Food

The key to a delicious and healthy meal is fresh ingredients. You can get vegetables and meat for a good price from the nearest public market or supermarket. Consider getting frozen vegetables, too. These contain no preservatives and are just as good for you as fresh ones. Plus, most frozen vegetables are pre-cut, so all you need to do is defrost them and drop them into the pan.

Use Healthy Fats

Fat is an essential part of many dishes, as it adds flavor. When you’re frying or sauteing something, fat also spreads heat evenly throughout the food you’re cooking. It also prevents ingredients from sticking to the bottom of your pan. However, animal fat like butter and bacon fat should be taken in moderation. Use vegetable-based ones like olive and canola oil instead. 

Go Beyond Frying

For many beginners, frying and sauteing are the easiest cooking methods. However, it’s not really the healthiest, as it often requires you to use fat. Consider oil-free cooking methods like steaming, broiling, baking, or even grilling. If you’re craving the texture of fried food, use an air fryer. This uses rapidly circulating hot air to make your food crisp, mimicking the process of deep-frying without utilizing oil.

Home cooking is nothing to be afraid of. It’s a necessary skill if you want to have a healthy life without burning a hole in your bank account. Make use of the tips above to create dishes that are not only delicious but also good for you.