5 Ways to Make Any Recipe Healthier

Cooking at home is a great way to eat healthy, but not all recipes are healthy. Here are 5 simple ways to make any recipe healthier.

Reduce the Amounts of Some of the Unhealthier Ingredients

One easy way is to substitute an ingredient for a healthier one. Whole wheat pasta, brown rice, leaner cuts of meat are substitutes that you will not notice.  They hardly (if at all) affect the taste of a recipe

Eliminate Some Ingredients

Sometimes you can skip ingredients all together! Condiments, cheese and toppings are easy ones that you won't miss too much. 

Change the Cooking Method

Instead of frying, bake your food! You'll save calories and fat. 

For foods that are already use baking as the cooking method (like cookies), keep these tips in mind:

- replace fats like butter with oil

- when oil doesn't work, try using pureed fruits/veggies.  Things like applesauce or prune puree work great.

- add fiber

- use less sodium

Portion Size

One of the easiest ways to make a recipe healthier (without changing the actual recipe) is to eat less of it! Keep portion sizes reasonable and you'll still get to enjoy your favorite foods. 

Keep a portion size chart handy in your kitchen or on your computer so that when serving yourself and others you have a reference for how much to dole out!