Cooking light does not mean zero flavor. In fact, many of your favorite recipes can be prepared lighter through healthy cooking methods without sacrificing any taste. So how do you cut the fat and start cooking lighter for family and friends?

 

Cooking Light Starts with a Recipe

Before you cook anything, you need to examine the recipe you are dealing with. Though just about any recipe can be transformed into a healthy cooking version, not all recipes are suitable for lighter options. Take a look at each ingredient and see if there are places where you can omit or substitute heavier ingredients for lighter options.

 

Example: Instead of regular white rice, substitute with brown rice.

 

Cooking Light Means Eating Lighter

Not only should you focus on how to substitute out or omit ingredients that are not a part of a healthy living, but you should also focus on portion control. Try starting out with a smaller portion than you would typically use for a meal and see if that actually satisfies you before moving on to more. You might be surprised at how much food it takes to fill your stomach – and it’s not very much.

 

Some Clever Tactics for Cooking Light

Most people turn to healthy cooking in order to lose weight. Therefore, ingredients needed to be monitored, but flavor still needs to be present in order for the meal to be enjoyed. Try a few of these quick and easy tips to transform your recipes into a quick, light alternative:

 

*Use half the sodium amount recommended within the recipe.

*Instead of regular cheddar, find a flavorful cheese to sprinkle on top of dishes so that you can use less in the end.

*Instead of mixing nuts, cheese or chocolates into batters, sprinkle them on top.

*Use half the sugar recommended for crumb toppings on your favorite desserts.

*Use reduced-fat ingredients wherever possible.

*In recipes that need more than one egg, use an egg substitute or egg whites instead.

*Use citrus to add flavor to veggies instead of sodium.

Look at Canned and Preserved Ingredients

Sometimes a recipe will call for a canned or frozen ingredient. Luckily, more makers of these types of products understand the importance of healthy cooking in order to lose weight and have a healthier body. Therefore, there are options to help you when cooking light, even if it is out of a can.

 

Rather than buy regular chicken broth, opt for a lower-sodium or no-sodium broth instead. Canned tomatoes and other vegetables can also be found in low-sodium or zero salt varieties to help limit your sodium intake. If working with a product like canned beans, make sure to rinse the beans in a strainer under cool water – this will remove the salt brine from their skins.

 

Cooking light shouldn’t be a burden. In fact, if you look at it as a fun challenge, you will be surprised at how easy it becomes to turn an ordinary recipe into a healthy cooking game.

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