If your family is used to chicken and pizza as your breakfast, lunch and dinner then having light meals can be a great adjustment to do. But cooking light should be addressed importantly because of the many benefits it can give. The first thing is not to tell they’ll never have fast food again at all or they can only snack on carrots while watching TV. These are not good steps in preparing your family into a healthier lifestyle.
However, if you make subtle changes slowly and gradually, your family may actually enjoy the light cooking you prepare without even noticing it.
Eating Whole Grains
If you are a big pasta fan, start mixing 100 per cent whole grain pasta such as spaghetti or other shapes into your regular meals. A few strands of browner colored spaghetti here and there will not throw your family off. Gradually increase the ratio of brown to white and mix it with a lot of veggies and they will not be able to tell the difference. If they do notice, ask them if they feel there is a drastic difference in taste. When they answer in the negative, you will have won your first battle.
Incorporate Vegetables
There are lots of recipes to be found on the internet and in books on how you can make zucchini muffins and carrot pancakes and no one is the wiser. Many popular fruit juices have started including healthy servings of veggies in their fruit juices so that your children get their daily recommended amounts without it having to be a big issue.
Go to Low Fat
When baking or cooking items such as brownies, meatloaf and Alfredo sauce, you’ll always have to use milk, cheese and other dairy products. Good thing there are available products that are low in fat and there are even fat-free versions. When you mix together milk, cheese and butter for macaroni you can use skim milk instead as well as reduced fat cheddar. You can also substitute vegetable spread instead of the usual ingredients so your kids won’t even notice the difference.
Simple Substitutes
You can use unsweetened butter or oil when baking and when cooking you can opt for olive oil instead. This can be a good way for your family to cut off the calories without even noticing it and they taste better.
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