15 Tips For a Healthier Dinner Tonight
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Enjoying a healthy, delicious dinner doesn't have to be a long or laborious process in the kitchen. Take these quick tips to heart for a better dinner tonight!
- Clean your crisper: Clean out your crisper, and toss in veggies that aren't in your recipe. This wll enhance flavor, increase fiber, and reduce waste.
- Go open face: Cutting half the carbs and reducing the calories of your sandwich is simple with one little modification: halve the bread.
- Make everything a salad: It doesn't matter if it's pizza, pasta, or curry — a handful of leafy greens always makes a dish healthier and more delicious.
- Bring out broth: Forget the oil, and use vegetable broth instead with the technique known as a wet sauté. Use twice as much vegetable broth as you would have oil.
- Spice it up: Boost your metabolism and help your body burn more fat with spice! Ginger, cinnamon, cayenne, and turmeric are all easy additions that bring tasty flavor and fat-burning power to recipes.
- Make your own salad dressing: Skipping the store-bought stuff can do wonders for your meal. Check out these healthy homemade salad dressings for the flavor and texture you're craving.
- Cut (back) on cheese: Don't overdo it with dairy in the evening. Cutting back on cheese and milk will help you have a lighter dinner — and easier digestion.
- Double your veg: Bulk up your favorite recipes with double the veggie power. For example, when a recipe calls for 1/4 cup of chopped peppers, add 1/2 cup instead.
- Add whole grains: Skip the white crackers, toast, and refined grains, and add whole grains to the mix instead. You'll feel just as satisfied with more nutritional value.
- Measure it out: Don't eyeball everything! You may not realize just how many tablespoons you're using if you don't use measure out things with care.
- Don't drink to cook: You'll be less likely to be (as) concerned about the details of your healthy dish — and more likely to eat a full serving as you cook — if you've downed a drink before you hit the kitchen.
- Don't overdo condiments: Instead of laying on condiments like ketchup, mayo, or ranch, focus on fresh ingredients and flavors instead. And remember, a little goes a long way.
- Try chopsticks: Unless you're a true pro, picking up a pair of chopsticks will help slow speedy eating tendencies.
- Drink good ol' H2O: Don't think about grabbing a can of soda or juice full of empty calories. Hydrate with a big glass of water before your meal, and sip as you eat.
- Set aside leftovers: If you tend to double up on your serving size, set aside leftovers before you even dish out dinner for yourself. This way you'll have a healthy lunch ready for work tomorrow!