You’re Finally Going to Ditch Processed Food and Learn How to Cook!

Skip the processed food and go for whole food.

So, you want to eliminate all those pre-fixed, frozen, boxed meals, and the processed food that you too often rely on? We can help you do that – but you’ll have to learn how to cook. Don’t worry; it’s not as hard as you think. And once you get the hang of it, it’ll be as easy as ripping open a bag of Doritos. Well, almost.

As a long-time vegetarian, most-of-the-time vegan, I had to learn how to cook as soon as I went off to college. While I made a lot of mistakes (I exploded many casserole dishes and burned a lot of flavorless tofu), I eventually learned how to whip up healthy meals quickly.

So, what’s the easiest thing you can do to keep your kitchen full of un-processed foods? Buy a ton of fresh fruits and vegetables, slice, and enjoy. While you can buy any type of produce at the store year-round, try to fill your basket with seasonal delights. Learning how to prepare foods that are in season can help you break out of any food comfort zone you may have created.

If you’re looking to drizzle something atop your freshly cut seasonal vegetables, don’t head to the condiments aisle – head to your pantry and fridge. With a few simple ingredients and a bit of time, you can create a salad topping that’s better than anything that you could find that’s pre-made.

This goes for almost any other condiment, as well. You can easily make your own:

Hummus
Hot sauce
Ketchup

If you’re a slave to the frozen dinner or lunch, we feel you. These convenient meals are a snap to make when your energy is zapped. But sadly, most of these meals don’t really contain anything that tastes good, or is good for you. Instead of loading up on frozen meals, you can make your own un-processed, pre-made meals over the weekend. I love making a gigantic pot of chili on Sunday and divvying up the food into five glass (not plastic!) containers to enjoy for lunch during the week.

Have you ditched all of your processed foods yet? How did you make the change? Are there any processed foods that you just can’t part with?

Related on Organic Authority

Take the Chill Off with a Vegetarian Chili Recipe

4 Processed Foods You Can Make Better, Cheaper and a Whole Lot Yummier

The Top 7 Reasons Processed Foods are Ruining Your Life

Image: Steven Depolo

Tags: