8 Healthier Fast Cooking Tricks to Help You Cut Down on Time and Not Nutrition

 

8 Healthier Fast Cooking Tricks to Help You Cut Down on Time and Not Nutrition😉

It is a recognized fact that most of us desire to eat healthy foods, yet we simply do not have time. Amidst work, family and other chores, the preparation of a healthy meal may seem a daunting task. However, what would you say when I told you that it is not necessary to spend a lot of time in the kitchen in order to eat healthy?

The following are 10 simple and smart cooking hacks that have helped me stay on track with healthy eating, without having to give up too much time. They are tricks that I discovered throughout the years, some of them provided by my husband, some of them given by friends, and some of them pulled over by trial and error. This stuff is going to help no matter who you are; a student, working parent, or a person just trying to eat better.

1. Prep, Prep and Prep

There was one thing that took a long time every day and it was the preparation of vegetables because I had to peel them and cut them into pieces. 

These days I do it in advance- generally on a Sunday evening. I wash them, peel and cut vegetables like beans, carrot, spinach, bottle gourd, and even onions and transfer to containers or zip-lock plastic bags in the fridge.

It does save a lot of time in the week Especially once the prep is already done, it is much more likely you will actually end up cooking something good rather than ordering junk.

2. Cook With a Pressure Cooker

The pressure cooker is already a hero in most Indian kitchens. However, most human beings do not utilize it to the fullest extent. Within a fraction of the time using one whistle or two, you can make rice, dal, chane, rajma, vegetables, even pasta.

e.g. I usually use a one-pot khichdi of moong dal, rice, vegetables, and some spices. Fresh, delicious and prepared in less than 20 minutes.

3. A change to Whole Grains-Slowly

I had a concept in mind that whenever I eat brown rice or the millets, I eat them at the cost of flavour. However, in all fairness, it is something that I adjusted to and never turned back. Use half normal rice and half brown rice or millets at first.

The taste takes time to grow on you, and your body appreciates the increased bowel fibre and nutrients. In addition, a number of whole grains take less time to cook than you imagine, and this is particularly true with soaking.

4. Steaming rather than frying

This is one that will change the game. Idlis, however, are not the only thing that steams! You can even steam veggies, momos, cutlets. It helps in preserving the nutrients and does not use unnecessary oil.

I usually steam beetroot and sweet potato and add some chaat masala and lemon juice. It tastes great and it is guilt-free.

5. Production of Healthy Base Gravies by Make and Freeze Method

I was taught this by a friend. She prepares gravy of onion-tomato-cashews in large quantity, freezes it after cooling down in small quantities.

Whenever she wants to prepare a curry, all she has to do is defrost a cube and then add the veggies or paneer to it and add some masala to it.

No more 30 minutes of sauteing onions every day. Intelligent and technologically sound!

6. Make Overnight Foods, Overnight Oats or Sloppy Sprouts

Morning is always hectic and yet a bit of prep in the night will be able to make breakfast both quick and good. Oats with curd, fruits, and a little honey are the perfect compensations when you are under time pressure.

The same thing with sprouts which are given to soak overnight and steam in the morning and tossed with lemon juice, finely chopped onions and salt. It is my favorite nibble when I am looking to eat something light.

7. Roast Rather than Deep-frying

I adore samosas and pakoras, however, now I air fry or roast them.

Roasted methi theplas, homemade baked aloo tikki, or even the oven-roasted masala makhana are the ways to go to satisfy your cravings, without getting the oil overload. Is there an oven or an air fryer available? use it :) 

8.  Put together a Weekly Menu (Even basic ones will do)

This one has been of greatest help to me Simply writing a list of what I can cook on whatever day of the week will calm me down, as well as prevent making poor dietary decisions.

Working out a plan does not have to be spent in a black and white sense, but by having some idea of what you need to buy, you will find that grocery shopping is much easier, helps reduce the food that goes to waste and eliminates those last-minute cooking-related decisions.

                                                                                 Parting Words...

Healthy eating does not require anything fancy and gourmet like to make it work. It is not that big a deal in terms of changing where you plan and cook just slightly. I, myself, have been tracking down most of these hacks, and I can say that it is a true time, energy, and even money saver.

Next time after you want to use a food ordering application, remember about one of these tricks and use it. You may find how simple and delicious healthy cooking can turn out to be quite easily.

                            

                             Were these hacks useful?

Share this article with your friends and family -especially those that always have the time to complain that they are too busy to cook! And, in case you want more easy tricks on cooking, tech on home, and intelligent living styles, remember to sign up our blog.

Stay tuned to more such tips that work in the real life.

  

One Smart Hack at a time! Let’s make life easier!

check out my other page: 

🌿 7-Day South Indian Meal Plan for anyone going through Chemotherapy (Diabetic-Friendly & Nutritious)