You think you’re handy in the kitchen, do you? Even though you might be quite the sous chef, there’s always room for improvement. Because everyone wants to enjoy a better meal that is more nutritious and satisfying, we’re doing out these four tips that will help you prepare better-tasting meals everyone will love.
Tip #1: When shopping for meal ingredients, go as close to ‘whole’ as you possibly can.
This is a given for things like fruits and veggies, but for other foods like breads and pastas, you want to try to aim for as close to the earth as you can. By that, we mean ‘whole food’-sourced food products that use as little processed ingredients as possible.
A great example of this is whole wheat bread. Many ‘wheat’ breads that do not include the entire wheat grain are often deceptively labelled to make you think they’re healthier than they really are. Be sure you see ‘whole grain’ or ‘100% whole grain’ in the ingredient list before you buy it.
Tip #2: Learn exactly where your produce was grown, and opt for suppliers nearest you.
This can be difficult, because many grocery store produce departments don’t post the state or country of origin. But, if you look hard enough or ask the produce department manager, you can get the information you need.
By using veggies and fruits that are grown closer to you, you’re getting fresher ingredients that don’t cost as much to transport, hence saving you money at the same time.
Tip #3: Instead of heading into a big chain store for meal preparation, check out your local farmer’s market, instead.
This is a no-brainer for people who live in cities or towns with a regular farmer’s market. It’s absolutely worth it to wait until Saturday or Sunday to shop for meals for the week, and the fresher picks will last longer, too.
Tip #4: Improve your water quality.
Think about it: every meal you make probably involves the use of at least some water, be it for boiling, rinsing, or making soups and stocks. A lot of the time, we take for granted the quality of the water we use when cooking. But, purer, cleaner water just tastes better, and so do the meals that are made with it.
For better water quality, look into water purifiers and filters available at your local hardware store.
That’s it! Implement these tips today, and start reaping the benefits of better-tasting meals as soon as dinnertime!
