I am a university student on a very limited budget. How can I reduce the fat in my meals without spending a fortune?
That’s an easy answer: Learn to cook. You won’t have to pay restaurants or convenience food companies to cook for you. And you get a big bonus: You control the ingredients and fat. Plus, you can do it all without chemicals or preservatives.
The cheapest way to eat healthy is vegetarian. But “vegetarian” does not necessarily mean low-fat. Too much oil and cheese can push you over the fat threshold. Concentrate on vegetables, legumes, fruit, grains and broths. Choose organic foods whenever the price is right.
If you must eat meat, fish and poultry, learn a lesson from the many ethnic cuisines melting into our culture. Use meat in garnish amounts and heap on the grains and vegetables.
Rice is the primary staple on Far Eastern menus. A big mound of rice covers the plate at most meals. Flavor is introduced to the rice through stir-fry vegetables cooked in a sprinkling of flavorful oils and tamari soy sauces. Aromatics, like garlic and gingerroot, add zing to the symphony of flavors. A few pieces of chicken contributes textural variety, but the dish really could stand on its own, without the meat.
Europeans eat lots of pasta, potatoes and corn meal. Traditionally, meat is used for flavoring — not as the main course. Pasta primavera is a fantastic meal. But, sauce it with marinara or broth, instead of creamy Alfredo sauce. Splurge on a loaf of freshly baked bread that will last you for two or three meals. Then cook a hearty stew or soup…perfect for sopping with a few slices of hearth-baked bread.
Stew and soup are the easiest recipes on earth to cook. In fact, you can learn a lot of cooking basics from the soup cooking process. Try inventing a tasty soup, and you will stay in the kitchen the rest of your life. You can enjoy the wonders of creative cooking by substituting ingredients in a forgiving soup recipe as you conjure-up your first signature dish. You will always be warm and well-fed. And everyone loves the cook!