Be Prepared to Cook at Home!

What do you prefer, cooking at home or eating out? I personally like to get a bit of variety in. Eating at a restaurant can be easier and preferable at times, however, I typically try to avoid eating out except on my “treat yourself” day. Restaurants often focus on making the meal taste good rather than making it healthy. By preparing meals at home, you choose which ingredients go into the meals that you eat. This puts the power of eating healthy into your hands. Here at incentaHEALTH, we encourage all our participants to equip themselves with the tools necessary to prepare healthy meals from the comfort of your home.

By joining the incentaHEALTH program, you are already taking a step in the right direction for living a healthier lifestyle. We provide you with a weekly grocery shopping list, meal plans for six small meals each day, tips for staying motivated, overcoming personalized obstacles, and much more. Below are some of the best tips for making sure that you are prepared to cook meals at home and start living the healthy lifestyle.

Top Tips for Home Cooking:

1. Plan your meals ahead of time.
   1. This way you can go to the grocery store with a purpose.
   2. Cooking meals at home is a great way to improve your health and save money.
   3. The incentaHEALTH app provides you with your weekly grocery list and daily meal plans.
2. Do you have the kitchen supplies needed to cook? Make sure to have pots, pans, knives, a cutting board, measuring cups, measuring spoons, tongs, spatula, strainer, spoons, plates, bowls, utensils, and anything else that will help you be ready to prepare meals in the kitchen.
3. Choose easy meal ideas rather than focusing on complicated recipes.
4. Shop once a week to save time.
5. Pick a day to prepare your meals. This allows for quick and easy meals throughout the week.
6. Use leftovers! Try to reduce waste by using what you have. This can also save time because the leftovers are already prepared. All you have to do is heat them then eat them.

These tips are valuable to help you optimize your ability to prepare meals. According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, “people who frequently cook meals at home eat healthier and consumer fewer calories than those who cook less.” Get started cooking at home today so you can live the healthy lifestyle that you deserve! For more information on home cooking, contact the incentaHEALTH health coaches.

Sources:

1. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. November 17, 2014. Study Suggests Home Cooking is a Main Ingredient in Healthier Diet. https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/johns-hopkins-center-for-a-livable-future/news-room/News-Releases/2014/Study-Suggests-Home-Cooking-Main-Ingredient-in-Healthier-Diet.html