Homemade Meals Make for a Healthier, Wealthier You

If you like to eat out, your diet is probably suffering and you're definitely spending a lot of money. In a restaurant, you pay at least twice as much for the same meal that you could have prepared at home, and you miss out on all these nutritional benefits of preparing a meal at home:

1. Home made meals are under your control, which means several advantages: You are in control of portions, as well as the ingredients that can lower the fat content of a meal and the sodium content. Also, with smaller portions, you are more capable of weight management, if that is your goal.

2. You can use fresh ingredients from the grocery such as produce, herbs and lean proteins. When you eat out, that does not always mean fresh or good ingredients.

3. If you make a plan for your homemade meals, you will find eating in is easier if you give the days of the week a theme, such as Monday nights: Pasta night, Tuesday night: Mexican tortillas, and Wednesday night: Marinated Chicken and vegetables. This can make it easier to come up with ideas for the homemade meals to get prepared.

4. Stocking your shelves with good ingredients is essential: Frozen vegetables that can be steamed in the microwave are a great substitute to fresh vegetables steamed, with most of the same benefits. A good brand I suggest is Birdseye. Good pasta like Barilla Plus varieties, offers the fiber and the omega 3s, which are good for the heart. A good tomato sauce is Paul Newman brands, Bertolli Organic or Healthy Choice. Also, I suggest buying the Amish Chicken breast when they are on sale and stocking up in the freezer.

Think less sodium and less fat when you take the time to cook good home meals, and watch out for the portions. You are in much more control than a chef, who wants you to come back for more!

A great Web site for meal ideas is www.mealsforyou.com.