Great Cooking Methods to Live By

A few million years ago, cooking was non-existent. Our ancestors foraged and hunted for theirfood, and then sat down to a meal of raw meat or produce. Back then, the only reason for eating was survival, and so little to no attention was paid to the taste or preparation of food.However, with the discovery of fire everything changed. From here, man evolved, including his understanding of food.

While still largely a means of survival, the introduction of fire and eventual discovery of cooking led to the allure of tastiness. Today, with the widespread availability of deep-fried everything and all manners of unhealthy food, it is evident that the scales have tipped drastically in favor of tastiness, making healthful eating a second (or even third, fourth) thought.

Living sustainably has as much to do with our diets as it does with other aspects of our lives.When you eat naturally and organically, you become green from the inside-out. With this in mind, it is important to note that it's necessary to consider the method of preparing this healthy food.

Here are some of the more popular methods of cooking and their effects on the nutrient content of food:

• Steaming

One of the simplest cooking methods, it is also the healthiest option available. By simply placing your food in a perforated basket on top of a pot of boiling water (you can add spices to the water to enhance the flavor of your food), you almost completely preserve the nutrients of your food while keeping the integrity of the taste.

Take care that your vegetables are still brightly colored and slightly crunchy when you're done. Soggy and dull vegetables are a sign that the food is overcooked and most of the nutrients are lost.

• Baking

Perfect for meats, fish, vegetables, and desserts, baking is well-known as a healthy cooking technique. With the existence of many non-stick bakeware available, you can enjoy wonderfulbaked goods without the existence of unwanted fats!

• Stir-fry

Popularized by Chinese cuisine, stir-frying involves the use of a wok over medium-high heat and continuously stirring the contents of the wok to keep them crunchy without burning them. One can make use of healthy oils (e.g. sesame oil) or a small amount of broth to do away with oils altogether. The speedy cooking time and use of less oil makes stir frying a healthy choice.

A simple tip when stir-frying is to add a little water to the heated wok first, then add your oil afterwards. When cooking a meal with meat, stir-fry the meat first before the vegetables.

• Poaching

Poaching is ideal for foods such as fish, chicken, eggs, and foods that would be to tough if boiled. It involves simmering food in water at a very low level of heat on the stove top. It can also be done over a grill or open fire with the food enclosed in a foil container. As with steaming, spices and even vinegar can be added to the water for a healthy way of adding flavor to food.

Poaching is a healthy alternative because it eliminates excess fats altogether.

Cooking Methods to Avoid

• Microwaving

A slow cooker can be a healthy and cheap cooking method

While in a fast-paced world it is enticing and even practical to have entire meals prepared in mere minutes, what you save in minutes, you lose in health. The speedy heating of foodis due to the forceful deformation of the molecules of food. Studies have proven that this action (called structural isomerism) can cause a breakdown in the proteins we ingest. Such a breakdown may or may not be healthy.

• Frying

Any manner of frying is bad for you. Frying uses excess oil and because of the food's prolonged exposure to the oil, frying is one of the tastiest and unhealthiest cooking techniques. Suchmethods can cause inflammation, increase your cholesterol level, and clog your arteries.

• Charred Grilling

Grilling, when done right, is a very healthy way of preparing food. However, any charring or browning of food creates free radicals in the body, which are not the least bit good for your body. Studies show that the charred bits of barbecued food are carcinogenic. If you must grill, take care not to eat the charred parts of the food.

There are many other types of cooking not tackled here, but as a rule, one should reduce or completely avoid the consumption of excess fat and sodium when preparing food. Instead,experiment with different spices, healthy oils, and other flavorings that can contribute to tastier and healthier dishes. To keep healthy eating fun, remember to always practice and experiment with your food preparation and recipes. This way you can find the perfect twist to recipes that excite your taste buds.

Isabella York is a mother dedicated to healthy living, without giving up her life in the process. Along with raising her son, she works for Balsam Hill, a purveyor of Artificial Christmas Trees and Christmas Trees.

See also Isabella's article on why artificial Christmas trees can be green:Best Artificial Christmas Trees.

All opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.

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