Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Stir Fry for Dinner - Healthy, or Not?

Do you ever prepare a stir-fry at home because it's a healthy dish to eat? Stir-frying vegetables and meats can indeed be healthy, but here are some suggestions to make sure the way you prepare your food delivers maximum health benefits as it should:
  • Use organic vegetables
  • Use healthy, sustainably-raised, grass-fed meats and poultry
  • Avoid using soy products like tofu that are processed and unhealthy to consume
  • When you cook, use cast iron, stainless steel, good quality enamel, or ceramic - avoid teflon, aluminum, and Silverstone cookware that can leech chemicals and metals into your food.
  • Use healthy oils in cooking such as olive oil (only if you sautee on low heat). Choose high-smoke point oils such as grapeseed and coconut oil for higher temperatures. Avoid the following unhealthy vegetable oils: canola, soy, cottonseed, sunflower, and safflower
  • If you choose to use rice or noodles with your stir fry, use less in quantity and choose brown rice or sprouted grain, organic noodles. These foods are lower in glycemic value (which means less fluctuations in your blood sugar) and contain more nutrients because they are less processed and sprouted.
  • Use healthy seasonings for flavor such as sea salt, pepper, and organic herbs and spices. If you are going to use a soy sauce, choose one that is wheat-free and unpasteurized. You may even be able to find one that is fermented, which is a bonus. Your health food store should have good selections of different types of soy sauces. Consider making your own sauces at home with healthy oils, raw vinegars, and seasonings/spices. Lemon and lime juice, garlic, ginger, certain fruits, and nuts are excellent for augmenting sauce recipes

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