Unless you know what you’re doing, cooking at home can be as detrimental to your health as eating out. As far as your body is concerned, a home-cooked meal of processed foods high in saturated fat, sugar, and sodium might as well be McDonald’s. But becoming a healthy cook isn’t as hard as you think. Here are some essential habits for healthy home cooks, starting from the moment you set foot in the grocery store to the second you put dinner on the table. Shop the Right Way Healthy cooking starts with strategic grocery shopping. Create a meal plan for the week and stock your cart with whole, fresh, and organic foods, lean proteins, and unrefined grains: an easy way to do this is to shop the

perimeter of the grocery store. When you do have to buy prepared foods, choose products with the fewest and simplest ingredients. Healthy grocery options can be expensive, but here are six ways to save money when shopping organic . Fill Your Toolbox If cooking from scratch seems daunting, arm yourself with a few healthy kitchen gadgets. From steamers to kitchen scales, these tools will help cut back on prep and cook time, reduce the amount of fat in your dishes, and even make calorie counting and portion control easier. Here are a few of our favorite healthy cooking gadgets . Learn how to cook healthy at home after the break!

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The Essential Habits of a Healthy Home Cook