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It seems a lot of the recipes we grew up with are very heavy in fat and saturated fat. And even today, many of the best chefs and their cookbooks are full of fatty recipes. In order to eat healthy and live a healthy life it’s important to cut back on the amount of fat you consume on a daily basis. This means adopting some new cooking techniques and learning how to be a savvy chef.

Here are 7 cooking tips to reduce fat.

#1 Purchase nice cookware. There are many brands that offer safe relatively non-stick features. This means you do not need to add fat to the pan to ensure your food doesn’t stick. A light coating of cooking spray will do the trick.

#2 When you’re baking don’t use the egg yolk. Most often you can substitute egg whites or an egg substitute and eliminate the fat from the yolk. You can also often substitute applesauce for oil in many baking recipes. Breads are especially good with an applesauce substitute.

#3 Always choose low-fat or skim dairy products when cooking. Yes, alfredo sauce tastes great with heavy cream. However, it tastes just as good with skim milk too and it has much less fat.

#4 Instead of meat, add beans, tofu or tempeh. Many recipes call for protein and red meat is the common go to meat. However, red meat is high in saturated fat. Instead of meat, add beans or a soy based protein and practically eliminate the fat. Chili is a great recipe that can be meatless. Sloppy Joes and many soups and stews are also great in a meatless or low meat, option.

#5 Always trim the fat from your meat before you cook it. And unless the recipe specifically calls for it, remove the skin from chicken before you cook it.

#6 Instead of seasoning foods with butter and fat, season them with fresh herbs. Herbs not only add tremendous flavor to foods, they also often add a health benefit. For example, parsley is good for digestion.

#7 Substitute lean protein for fatty protein. Instead of hamburgers, make turkey burgers. Instead of pepperoni on your pizza, add Canadian bacon. Look for lean cuts of meat to substitute fatty cuts in any recipe you make.

Cutting back on the fat when you cook isn’t difficult. However, it does take a bit of advanced planning and consideration. Taking the time to cut back on fat can have a dramatic effect on your health. You’ll feel better, you’ll look better and you’ll be healthier.

American Farmer Cooking Tips

Snacking is one super way to make sure you don’t suffer from low blood sugar. It’s also a great way to do what many nutrition experts recommend, which is to eat 5-6 small meals a day. However, if you’re not careful, snacking can put you above your normal calorie intake which means gaining weight. Here are 10 healthy snacks that are under 100 calories each:

#1 Nuts. Almonds are a great source of fiber and protein which means your blood sugar levels will stay even. It also means you’ll stay full for a good long time. A handful of almonds or pistachios, about 12-15, is around 100 calories. Doesn’t sound like much but you’ll feel satisfied after eating them.

#2 Hardboiled egg. Hardboiled eggs can be prepared in advance and they’re fairly easy to store. Additionally, each egg is packed with protein and they’re low in fat and calories. One hardboiled egg contains around 78 calories.

#3 Hummus and veggies or pita bread. Hummus is a dip prepared from chick peas and tahini or sesame paste. It’s delicious, packed with protein and fiber and seriously filling. Two tablespoons and a wedge of pita bread come in around 100 calories. For more fiber and a serving of veggies use carrot sticks or celery instead of pita bread.

#4 Craving chocolate? Grab a low fat pudding cup. The protein in the dairy will help balance your blood sugar and the chocolate will…well you know what the chocolate does. It soothes the soul.

#5 Popcorn. Three cups of air popped popcorn comes in at around 90 calories. That’s without butter. Popcorn doesn’t really provide much nutritional value but it doesn’t really have any ill effects either.

#6 Tortilla chips. You can eat around 15 bite sized tortilla chips and have some calories to spare. Ten chips come in around 55 calories. Saves room for a tablespoon of salsa.

#7 Blueberries. Blueberries pack a punch when it comes to antioxidants. And you can eat a whole cup of them and only consume 75 calories.

#8 Not a blueberry fan? Eat a banana. A small to medium banana is around 100 calories.

#9 Love watermelon? You can eat a half a medium watermelon and only consume 50 calories.

#10 Still looking for something sweet and crunchy? Kellogg's Chocolately Drizzle Special K Bar has only 90 calories. It also has only 1.5 fat grams and 1 gram of saturated fat and comes in several flavors including: strawberry, blueberry, honey nut, vanilla crisp, and peaches and berries.

Snack time is easy when you’re prepared. And while non-processed foods are always preferred, there are some fairly healthy, low calorie processed options available. Plan ahead and you won’t go hungry; better yet you’ll lose weight and stay healthy.

American Farmer Cooking Tips

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7 Cooking Tips To Reduce Fat

American Farmer Cooking Tips

10 Snacks Under 100 Calories Each

American Farmer Cooking Tips