I work with people regarding Lifestyle, Exercise, Attitude, and Nutrition and an easy nutrition starting place is to eat fresh and from home!
Why Eat Whole and Homemade Foods?
You avoid harmful chemicals
Reduce the amount of processed foods you consume
You are in charge of how much salt, fat, and sugar you use
You can eliminate the dyes, trans fats, and preservatives
Fresh whole, in-season foods are at their peak nutritionally
The flavors are stronger, more full, and fantastic
No hidden ingredients
When we eat homemade food we tend to eat smaller portions
Eating locally and seasonally is better for the environment
Buying in-season foods can be easier on the budget
Supports your community and farmers
Don’t believe me? Then believe the experts! A Johns Hopkins University study in 2014 found that people who frequently cooked from home consumed fewer calories, sugar, and carbohydrates compared to people who only cooked from home once a week. In 2017, a study from the University of Cambridge found that people who cooked five nights a week were 28% less likely to be overweight based on BMI and 24% less likely to have excess body fat compared to people who cooked from home 3 times or less per week.
Let’s not forget about the satisfaction and fulfillment that comes from making your own food! It can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience if you have the right perspective about it!
Picking Fresh Foods
Keep fresh fruits and veggies handy
wash and cut them so they are ready to eat and store in the fridge
keep a bowl of fruit in a visible place in the kitchen, like the table or end of the counter
Shop wisely and locally, pay attention to what is in season and what looks best
Be open to buying what is at your local Farmer's Market and don't make a rigid list
Add veggies to as many dishes as you can, like sauces, stirfrys, stews, smoothies, and even meatloaf!
Be forewarned! My grown daughter was sitting around with some friends talking about snacks and growing up, and my daughter informed her friends that she grew up in an "ingredients" home!!
Yes, yes she did. My kids grew up with fresh ingredients homemade snacks and the occasional splurge of store-bought snacks. You are warned, you may become an ingredients home too!
Making things from "Scratch", homemade is fun and rewarding! You know that you are providing the best flavor and nutrition to all who sit at your table! You do this by eating Fresh and From Home!
Some easy-to-make Homemade ideas:
Salad Dressing - Once you start it is hard to go back to bottled dressings!
Chips
Ice Cream or Faux Cream!
Bread / Buns
Tortillas
Noodles
French Fries
And so many more things!!
Comment with your favorite homemade item and share the recipe!
Adapted with permission from Coach Content Collaboration (affiliate link)
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