Healthy Food Hacks
Do you love a good life hack? Want to find easy ways to make life a little easier? Health hacks are no different! When it comes to food, a universal ingredient for healthy living, don’t discount how far simple tricks can go. Read on for five healthy food hacks.
Swap it out. Instead of depriving yourself of foods you enjoy, like tasty dip or dessert, consider making simple swaps so you can still eat your favorites while boosting nutrition. Use cottage cheese or Greek yogurt, consider frozen banana slices with peanut butter, use hummus or pesto as a spread on sandwiches or try your own healthy alternatives. These swaps might help adjust your palette, enhance your vitamins and nutrient intake and reduce unhealthy cravings.
Clean out your pantry. Grabbing the less healthy options can be easy when they are more readily available. Have a look in your pantry or fridge and take note of what healthy options you can stock up on instead. Replace your vegetable oils with heart-healthy options like olive or avocado oil, swap refined sugars for natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup and try to stock up on whole-grain rice, bread, flours and pastas instead of white or processed versions.
Natural flavors. While salt, sugar or processed marinades and sauces can be convenient, there are healthier ways to add taste to your food. Consider items like fresh or dried herbs and spices, acids like lemons or homemade dressings and marinades made from staple pantry items like vinegars. Doing so will significantly reduce the unnecessary added ingredients in your diet.
Cooking techniques. Be aware of how you might be preparing your meals, remember that how food is cooked affects its nutritional quality. Experiment with roasting, grilling or steaming rather than frying, use broth to boil pastas or grains and batch cook or meal prep to help avoid overly processed last-minute options. Not only is it healthier, but it can also boost natural flavors rather than masking them in other ingredients.
Drink up. Dehydration could be mistaken for hunger. Sipping an adequate amount of water throughout the day and with meals can help with digestion, energy levels and cravings. Consider when and how you’re drinking your H2O, too. Carry a reusable bottle, opt for water or no-added-sugar beverages at restaurants, infuse your water with natural flavors like mint or oranges and even eat your water with vegetables like cucumbers.
Next time you reach for a snack, order out or prepare a meal, think of the above health hacks and try to apply one or two. The more you try them and add them to your routine, the more these hacks will seem like second nature.
