For people looking to make healthy eating a lifestyle choice rather than a January crash diet, it's crucial to have a well-stocked kitchen. When you have delicious and appetizing food in your home, skipping restaurants and processed foods comes much more naturally. Good food choices also keep you fuller longer, so you don't have to rely on less-than healthy options when venturing from home.
Whether you are trying to lose weight or simply eat right, keep your cabinets full of good choices and fresh ingredients, and keep your head full of adventurous ideas. When you begin to create new meals, whatever you throw together at home will be both tasty and good for you.
The main ingredient in mustard and a crucial component to curry, turmeric has a plethora of health benefits. It's great for indigestion, inflammation and heart function. It protects the brain and can delay the onset of diabetes. What's just as important? It's really tasty. Add it to a soup or make a homemade curry with veggies and brown rice. Everyone will thank you.
It's the healthiest fat available, and it's good for you. It helps fight against heart disease and decreases your chance of a stroke. In fact, people who take in olive oil regularly are 40% less at risk for stroke than those who don't. There's no end to how you can use olive oil — use it to make a salad dressing or to cook eggs. It will lend flavor without overpowering other ingredients.
Chia seeds are low in calories and high in nutrients. They are full of fiber, lower bad cholesterol and boost immunity. They are also anti-oxidant rich, and there a million uses for them. Toss them in smoothies or on a salad. They even make a great pudding.
It wasn't long ago that kale was the green that topped the list of trending and healthy ingredients. Today's version of kale is algae. With amazing benefits as a superfood and many options for serving, these stem-repairing greens can transform a breakfast, lunch or dinner. Make an "un"wich by wrapping sandwich fixings in nori leaves or create a home version of miso soup.
Pickled beets, beet juice and beet salad are just a few of the ways this healthy veggie is being used in 2017. It adds color and life to any dish, and it makes an excellent addition to any roasting vegetable mix. Full of fiber, magnesium and other nutrients, beets can sustain a feeling of being full while giving the eater a vitamin-rich offering. For a new take on an old favorite, try beet hummus.
Derived from beet molasses or sugar cane, nooch has a nutty flavor, and many equate it to a vegan version of parmesan. Also called nutritional yeast, it packs a healthy punch, with eight grams of protein, three grams of fiber and three times the daily requirements for B12 in just ¼ cup of flakes. It's great as a parmesan substitute, but it's one to get creative with — add it to popcorn or use it to make gravy.
As an added bonus, it's also naturally gluten-free.
These are great options for creating a meal, but remember to always keep fresh vegetables on hand, too. Brown rice, sautéed veggies, coconut milk and curry will be sure to create a perfect dinner. A box of pasta can go a long way with fresh veggies, and the nooch gives it life. Hummus is always good for you — puree roasted beets and olive oil for an amazingly nutritious take on something you already love.
The art of healthy cooking is about leveraging what you have in the cupboard with what is fresh from the store, and if you keep your kitchen stocked with the good stuff, creating a nutritious meal is that much easier than hitting a fast food spot.