What are your daily eating habits? Do you eat foods without thinking about the fat content, or do you keep a running tally of the things you eat? If you’re like most people, you probably spend a considerable amount of time thinking of ways to cut calories and cook with less fat. While it is a common misconception that you should cut every single gram of fat from your diet, it is true that you should do your best to avoid needless calories from fat. If you do not have the time or patience to monitor your daily fat intake, here are some quick and simple ways of cooking low fat for you and your family.
Baked not Fried
Let’s face it; we all love the taste of fried chicken. However, fried chicken is not exactly a low-fat meal. Instead of frying your chicken, a great low-fat alternative is to bake it in the oven. If you bake it slow enough, you can still preserve the tenderness and you can flavor it with your favorite seasonings. If you cannot stand the thought of eating chicken without some type of crispy crust, then you can lightly coat it with a flavored baking coating, and bake it. This is a great option because you don’t have to dip the chicken in eggs in order for the coating to stick, and you can have that crispy crust you desire without all of the calories. If chicken breasts are not your favorite cut of meat, consider buying boneless, skinless chicken tenders instead. They are easy to handle, and they will not dry out as easily as some other cuts of lean chicken. In order to avoid having to use oil in the oven, use a nonstick cookie sheet or line a regular cookie sheet with foil.
Trim the Fat
There’s no denying that fat on meat is tasty, but keep in mind that the more fat you eat, the more fat will accumulate in your body. While it is true that leaving the fat on adds some flavor, many people are surprised to discover that trimming the fat doesn’t have to be synonymous with trimming the flavor. Gone are the days where low-fat cooking meant low flavor cooking. Remember to get as creative as possible with your herbs and spices, and you will probably find that your food has more flavor than it did when you relied solely on the fat from the meat.
Skip the Stick
When you are cooking with butter or olive oil, how often do you actually measure the amount that you use? When you’re in a hurry, the last thing you want to do is stop and measure out 3 tablespoons of olive oil. However, when you overuse certain oils, just because you aren’t keeping track, that doesn’t mean that the calories magically disappear. Many people who use nonstick cooking pans find that they never use oil for cooking again. Instead of cutting corners and purchasing nonstick pans that are not truly nonstick and that you will have to replace in 6 months, invest in a quality set of nonstick pans.
Get into Grilling
Most people don’t realize how many calories they can save simply by grilling their food instead of frying it. If you are unable to grill on your back deck year-round, consider purchasing a countertop or stovetop grill for your kitchen. This will be helpful because you won’t have to lapse into your old, unhealthy food routines once colder months arrive.