Eating meat can be a very unhealthy practice if done incorrectly, but it’s important to add the protein of meat to your diet in a health-conscious way. Keep reading to see our best tips for cooking meat in heart-smart ways!
Trim Visible Fat
OK guys, this may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to be in a rush and just neglect the trim of white that’s on the edge of your meat. Even if it seemingly disappears during the cooking process, the truth is that it doesn’t disappear and it’s not good for you to eat it. Take the time to prepare your meats, and trim off fat, and you’ll be healthier even if you don’t know it.
Cook on a Rack
As meat cooks, juice drains. Chicken and roasts will sometimes have large pools of liquid around them in a pan. Add a rack to your pans that sits an inch or so off the bottom, so that your meat isn’t sitting in drippings. Then, as fat melts off your meat, it won’t be reabsorbed. This is one tricky way to make sure that your meat is as healthy as it can possibly be.
Trade Red Meat for Fish
Salmon filets are often called salmon steaks for a reason — you feel just as decadent eating them as you do a regular, red meat steak! They can be just as flavorful with a nice seasoning of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Try trading your weekly beef indulgence for fish, and you will be making a healthy choice. One fish to stay away from? Tilapia, which has almost no nutritional value.
Don't Deep Fry
Filling a frier with vegetable oil and letting food cook in it is not heart healthy in the slightest. Use cooking methods that actually enhance flavor and don’t negatively impact your health. Grill, steam, and roast whenever possible.
