Leading a healthy lifestyle, eating right and exercising, is SO IMPORTANT, but seems to come at the bottom of the list of priorities in so many peoples lives. Simply go out in public and take a quick look around and you’ll see what I’m talking about. We’ve heard all the stories and reports in the media about the “new epidemic” of obesity in America. I think it’s about time that moms (and dads) start taking the responsibility of teaching their children and modeling for them what it means to be healthy. By this I mean eating right and exercising on a regular basis. It all starts at home and being a stay-at-home mom, i’ve decided to put together a list of the things that our family does when it comes to cooking and eating. This list isn’t exhaustive, but something I threw together in about 10 minutes to give a few examples.
Quick tips for healthier cooking/eating:
1. Substitute “no sugar added” applesauce for oil in baking

2. Add 1 egg to recipe and use only egg whites (zero cholesterol)

3. Use whole-wheat pasta’s, rice, bread and buns

4. Eat lots of fruit. Always offer it as a snack to your children or grab it yourself!

5. Take out an ingredient – ex – mashed potatoes and butter, instead add some FF sour cream, FF milk, salt and pepper

6. Use 1% or Fat Free Milk instead of 2% or Whole

7. Use low sodium or “no salt added” products – ex. Taco seasoning, canned veggies

8. Dying for some chocolate, get your fix with a mug of FF hot chocolate

9. Only purchase 2% milk or FF Cheese, they taste the same and cook exactly the same as regular cheese

10. A favorite, Heart Healthy Bisquick – yummy and has so many uses

11. Buy FF soups for cooking – FF Cream of Chicken, Mushroom etc..

12. Another favorite – Steam Fresh Veggies – put the whole bag in the microwave, cook for 4 – 6 minutes and you have fresh veggies, cooked perfectly to add as a quick side for any meal! Our freezer is stocked with these and we cook one almost every night!

13. Try Turkey Bacon, it’s actually yummy!

14. Try ground turkey, the leanest kind you can find – this does cost a little more but you can totally reduce almost all fat, both regular and saturated! It cooks up awesome in any meal and makes amazing turkey burgers! A family favorite of ours!

15. Eat dinner at home as much as possible, that way you have control over what is going into your food plus cooking with your family is so much fun and provides great bonding time.

16. No fried foods at home. If we have something fried, it is out at a restaurant and considered a real treat.

17. But FF/low fat ice cream! It tastes the same.