How to eat healthy with an air fryer in the New Year
Ever heard the saying “New Year, new me”? The New Year seems to be the best time to become healthier and eat better. Eating better is a broad goal and requires some practical steps. Aside from better food choices, one option to consider is healthier ways to cook food. An air fryer can assist you with good eating habits and cooking all your favorite foods more healthily.
How does it work?
The air fryer has been a trending topic, and it may seem like a foreign concept when your friend told you how much they loved and couldn’t stop using their air fryer. An air fryer is a recent staple in the kitchen because of its convenience while cooking crispy and crunchy food. The only other appliance that comes to mind that can do this would be the deep fryer. However, wouldn’t it be great to have that crunch without the oil? Well, that’s why the air fryer was made.
Unlike a deep fryer that requires food to be drenched in hot oil, an air fryer uses circulating hot air (generated from its heating elements) to cook the food. This is one of the health benefits of air frying.
Eating Healthy with an Air Fryer
So now we know how the air fryer cooks the food but did you know that it is not required to use oil when cooking with an air fryer? Yes! No oil at all, and the food still comes out crispy and tasty.
Cutting out the oil in your cooking is dramatically healthier for you. Most oils are processed and are high in calories without any nutritional value. Consuming less oil is also better for your heart because of the saturated fats in oils.
Ok, that’s impressive, but why what other health benefits are there to air frying?
The air fryer heats up rapidly, and on average, it can reduce cooking time by about 20%. This not only means that your food is cooked faster, but the nutritional retention of foods is higher because the food is not subject to long cooking times.
Another health benefit is that fatty oils from the food are extracted during the rapid cooking session, and it drips through the holes of the air fryer basket to the second basket below. This is fantastic! Not only do you cut out the oil you add to your food, but the fat from the food is also drained out.
These main factors alone are a great way to help you eat healthier. But you would need to pair this up with some healthy choices to really make a difference.
Healthy Choices
Choose leaner meats
For meat eaters, certain types of meats are better than others regarding nutrition. When buying meats, look out for lean cuts such as ground turkey or chicken breast with skin removed. These have fewer calories and saturated fats than other cuts like pork or beef ribs which tend to be higher in fat content. Additionally, try to limit processed meats such as bacon or sausage as these contain high amounts of sodium which could lead to health problems like high blood pressure over time if consumed regularly.
Watch Your Portion Sizes
When trying to eat healthier, it’s important not only what you eat but also how much you eat! Eating large portions can add extra calories that may not be necessary for your body’s needs. As a general rule of thumb, aim to fill half your plate with vegetables so that they make up the bulk of what you consume over less nutrient-dense foods like grains or starches such as white bread or pasta dishes.
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables should make up the foundation of any healthy diet. They contain essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help keep your body running optimally. Try to aim to get five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
Now… the fun part!
An air fryer also makes it easier to enjoy ingredients that can be boring when cooked conventionally. Why boil beans and cauliflower when you can air fry them with simple spices and enjoy their taste? An air fryer makes a healthy lifestyle easier by making vegetables and lean proteins something to enjoy. So here’s a list of some delicious (and healthy) air fryer recipes that we hope will become staple favorites in the kitchen.
1. Honey Garlic Salmon
An air fryer also makes it easier to enjoy ingredients that can be boring when cooked conventionally. Why boil beans and cauliflower when you can air fry them with simple spices and enjoy their taste? An air fryer makes a healthy lifestyle easier by making vegetables and lean proteins something to enjoy. So here’s a list of some delicious (and healthy) air fryer recipes that we hope will become staple favorites in the kitchen.
2. Sweet Potato Wedges
Sweet Potato wedges are a healthier alternative for those of us who struggle with an addiction to hot chips. The wedges are as easy as cutting up sweet potatoes and covering them in salt and/or pepper and putting them in the air fryer for around 15-20 minutes at 365 degrees Fahrenheit (185 degrees Celsius). They are healthier than hot chips because of the air frying without oil.
3. Honey and Balsamic Glazed Brussel Sprouts
Brussel Sprouts are a great staple if you want to eat healthily, and it’s a great way to get your fiber intake. However, cooking them and making them fun can be tricky. Not with an air fryer! The green sprout-like vegetable can be incredibly tasty by coating it with balsamic vinegar and honey for a fusion sweet and sour taste. They are best booked for 15 minutes at 395 degrees Fahrenheit (around 200 degrees Celsius).
4. Home Made Falafels
Falafels are a simple mixture of chickpeas, flour, onion, and herbs. When made at home with your own ingredients, they guarantee that there are no nasty surprises or ingredients that you might find when you buy them pre-packaged at the grocery store or from your local takeout. You can easily make your own falafels by combining smashed chickpeas, flour, onion, and herbs and rolling them into little balls to put into the air fryer. Cook for 15 minutes at 365 degrees Fahrenheit (185 degrees Celsius). They are healthy and reliable because they only use 4 simple and natural ingredients.
5. Garlic Cauliflower
Cauliflower is also another vegetable that is high in fiber and low in carbohydrates and calories. There are many ways to cook it but for a crunchy and textured taste, try putting chopped-up pieces in an air fryer. You can use any seasoning of your choice, like salt, pepper, paprika, or even chili. Try it coated with finely chopped garlic for a simple and comforting taste. It’s as easy as chopping up the cauliflower, coating it with your choice of herbs, and putting them in the air fryer for 10-15 minutes at 365 degrees Fahrenheit (185 degrees Celsius).
Be the healthiest version of yourself!
If your goal is to be healthier and eat better for the coming New Year, be reassured that you can do it! Accept some practical help from an air fryer and let it help you cook up some quick, easy, tasty, and healthy meals. New Year’s resolutions to eat better don’t require complicated fad diets. Just start with a simple change like changing the way you cook.
An air fryer cuts down your meal prep time. It provides a way to cook food to be crisp and hot without using oil. Eating healthy with an air fryer is reliable and easy. Combined with a healthy lifestyle and eating habits, the air fryer will be your best friend in the kitchen, helping you become the new you for the new year.
