5 Tips for Cooking Healthy – Fast!

By: Corry Matthews, Healthy Lifestyle Expert

Yep, we all know that eating better is something that will boost our immunity, help us live longer, and reduce overall pain, inflammation and bodyfat. The problem is, we are all super busy and finding the time to cook healthier meals can be hard.

The Solution: Here are 5 tricks that we use in my household and I recommend to my clients to help them eat healthier and manage their time. Some of these might be even more convenient than sitting in the drive through window or ordering take out. And yes, even as a nutritionist I will tell you eating out is a treat and something everyone should enjoy on occasion.

#1 Grill

Protein is the hardest and most time-consuming food to prepare and cook, however if you have a grill you cut your time and the mess in half. One suggestion I have is to make more than enough for one meal. Cook a few steaks, some chicken breasts and even some healthy fish. The night you grill, eat your fish since it doesn’t taste good heated up. Then choose meals throughout the week that you can incorporate your grilled proteins into.

#2 Crock Pot

These have become almost old-fashioned compared to our InstaPots, but they still do a really good job. I love crock pots for their super simple - set them and forget them. A few of my tried and true favorite recipes:

· Salsa Chicken – one jar salsa, and 1 to 1.5 pounds of chicken breasts or thighs. Simmer for 4-6 hours, then fork shred and add to tacos, burritos and rice bowls.

· Teriyaki – 1 cup teriyaki sauce and 1 to 1.5 pounds of chicken breasts/thighs, turkey or beef. If you want to add veggies, pour in frozen veggies the last hour. Add this to rice or noodles and you’ve got a full meal.

· Check out our site for other recipes too: https://strengthandgracefitness.com/recipes/

#3 Soups

Just like the crock pot, soups can provide a full meal ready to eat at the end of a busy day doing all the other things. Start with a stock (beef, chicken or vegetable) and add all your favorite veggies and a protein of choice. Let cook on low 6-8 hours (or use your crock pot again). Need some carbohydrates to go with it; add some crushed crackers or chips, or add in rice or pasta the last hour of cooking the soup.

#4 Casseroles

I know, we don’t make too many of these anymore, but they can be a super easy way to take your leftover meat from grilling or in the crock pot and add a few extra ingredients and dinner is done. One of my favorite recipes – take your salsa chicken from above and make an enchilada casserole (https://strengthandgracefitness.com/green-chile-enchilada-casserole/) with it!

#5 Leftovers

As Americans, we eat “lunch” out quite often. If you are trying to eat healthier your best and easiest solution is to make enough for dinner so that you have leftovers. When you are serving up dinner, put one or two servings in a glass container for tomorrow’s lunch (for you and your spouse…even works for kid’s lunches too). This will help you not only watch your waist, but also mind your wallet.

Healthy seems like so hard to make but these tips make it almost as easy as making a meal from box or a can!