All of us know that we should eat fresh and healthy foods but in our everyday hectic routines we usually end up making wrong choices because of lack of time or lack of energy.

Remember life is for living and food is there to help us, we should always try our level best to eat food in the healthiest way and here is a list of tips on keeping your food as healthy as possible.

OIL - Best cooking practice to keep your food healthy is to try and cut down on the amount of cooking oil you use. A pan made with nonstick metal or coated with a nonstick surface should be a must in your kitchen, because it lets you use little or no oil without having food stick.

The best cooking oil for frying is the one with a high smoke point to avoid setting off your kitchen fire alarm. Corn, safflower, canola and soy oils are excellent choices. Fried foods absorb quite a bit of the oil they are cooked in and therefore are much higher in calories. For stir - frying and salad dressing you should use oils which are low in saturated fat and high in monounsaturated fats. Olive oil, Sunflower oil and pea nut oil are the best examples of healthy cooking oils.

COOKING TEMPERATURE - Always cook foods at lower temperatures than higher temperatures as the nutrients are better preserved at low temperatures. If you are using vegetable oils for cooking then always cook on low flame as cooking on high temperature the oils get easily damaged or oxidized by the heat and can lead to severe health risks.

ROASTING TIP At the time of roasting always put a rack in the pan so the meat or poultry doesn't sit in its own fat drippings. While making gravy from the roasted drippings remember to use a gravy strainer to remove the extra fat. After roasting never ever eat the roasted food directly. Place a kitchen napkin or tissue paper on a plate and then put the roasted or fried food on the plate. The paper will help to absorb the extra oil from the food and you will end up eating less oily food.

CHICKEN AND FISH- While cooking chicken always remove the chicken skin. Chicken skin is not good for health at all as it is very high in fat. You should eat fish at least once or twice a week as it is high in proteins, low in fats and is loaded with omega 3 fatty acids.

SALT For a healthy and long life you should not consume lots of salt as high salt diet only contributes to a range of disorders including high blood pressure. Avoid eating salty processed meats, such as salami, ham, corned beef, bacon, smoked salmon, and chicken loaf. To avoid salt usage you can use herbs, spices, and vinegar or lemon juice to add extra zing to your recipe which helps to reduce the need of salt to a great extent.

VEGETABLES You can retain the nutrients of the vegetables by steaming them instead of boiling them. But If you like to boil vegetables, use a small amount of water and do not over boil them. To get the maximum nutrients from the vegetables stir fry them as they are cooked quickly by this method also retain their crunch and off course the nutrients.

I hope these tips will help you in your life and please do not just read and forget these tips, but try to practice them in your kitchen.

Cooking healthy food not only helps to keep you fit and in shape but also helps to increase your life.And I believe you agree with good health you can work more, earn more and lead a good and healthy life.

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