How can you stay healthy without doing any cooking yourself?  Peter Liu delivers 10 helpful and thoughtful tips.Eating healthy is hard enough as it is with all the wonderful food surrounded by the muck masquerading as food.  The recent do-it-yourself attitude towards nutrition and cooking leaves those who can’t cook at a disadvantage.  So how is it possible to eat healthy without cooking?  Everyone can cook to some extent, but there are those who would just as soon not.  It is possible to stay relatively healthy by watching what you eat, even without doing the cooking yourself.  Hopefully these 10 tips will help you with your waistline and stay clear from the kitchen.

It’s All About Control

Without observing the cooking process to truly know what’s in your food, it’s your job as a consumer to be supremely picky about what you put in your mouth.  If you’re the person who brings groceries into the house, then it’s your decision whether to leave those cookies on the shelf or put them into your cart.  Consider your work schedule, along with the times you eat, your daily caloric intake, what you usually snack on or usually buy at the store and whether or not you’re on a quest to lose a few pounds.

It’s Okay to Slip-Up…Sometimes

If your grocery shopping habits usually fill out at least one shopping bag of junk food, some changes might be in order, but letting yourself indulge in a bit of that orgasmic cake or ice cream once or twice a month shouldn’t be all that bad.  Just remember not to go overboard.

Take Your Time at the Store

Make sure you go to stock up on food when you’re not hungry; that way you can patiently peruse the aisles and make smart choices.  Read labels with a fury; you’re depending on these products to live!  Tiny percentages here and there can make a difference and so can lower fat choices.  Gradually cut down on junk food if you can’t go cold turkey.  Stock up on high-fibre heart-healthy choices like whole grain breads and cereals.

Focus on Healthy Ready-Made

Look for packaged, fresher ready-made foods from the deli (watch the sodium content) or the fresh foods section.  Most of the food served at the hot food section probably isn’t too good for you, but if you de-skin those roast chickens they can be a good source of protein.  Do try to pick up more fruits and vegetables you can eat raw, since they can be a great snack and replace cravings.

Avoid Food Courts

Much of the unhealthy gunk health officials lobby against can be found in your average food court, which is why making healthier choices in one can be difficult at times.  If the food court is all you have, look for a place that at least serves food from all four groups.

Common Sense Menu Reading

When it comes to restaurant eating, pick the healthier choices in the menu, try to avoid foods that need batter and take notice of cooking methods.  Leaner meats, like chicken and fish, are better choices or order a salad.  Opt for entrees that are poached, steamed, broiled or fresh.  Baked and roasted entrees are usually good choices also.

Ask for Nutritional Information

Don’t be shy to ask about what’s being put into your meal and be frank with any questions you might have about fat and sodium content, ingredients or the cooking process.  Better yet, look up the nutritional information of the restaurant you’re going to before heading there; it might give you a chance to choose your entree before you arrive too.

Trim the Fat and Eat Wisely

Try to order whole grain alternatives to pasta or breads and minimize the butter or margarine used on vegetables.  If possible, ask if your sauces, salad dressings or other condiments can be served on the side; this will give you more control over hidden calories that usually go into your meal.  Stick with water as a drink, since soda is full of extra sugar and alcohol encourages weight gain.

Watch Your Portions

Never forget that many restaurants serve more food than you should be eating in a single entree, so don’t hesitate to pack away food you can’t finish or share with a friend.  If you can’t finish your entree, don’t have dessert.

Healthy, Balanced Eating

Being healthy takes effort.  If you choose to overindulge one day, then compensating your healthy food intake the day after should be a priority.  At least, until the next time you accidentally overindulge.

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eat out, eat healthy

Even if you don’t cook, little changes in what you eat here and there can really make a difference in the way you look and feel.  It is smarter choices like these that will help you achieve better eating habits and a healthier lifestyle.


Sources:
Toronto.ca
Health Canada
WebMD
Eat Right Ontario