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Articles by Chef Nick

Healthier Choices From The Grocery Store
by Chef Nick Cavataio

Lets talk about making healthier meals that
are similar to products we buy from the grocery
store, that come in a can or box. Sometimes it
might mean using the combination of both processed
and fresh foods. So instead of using a can or a
frozen product you can make something completely
homemade I will be the first one to admit that I
sometimes use processed foods. Just by walking
through the grocery store and using your
imagination, you can get many ideas for healthier
choice meals. You will get plenty of ideas when
you start reading labels. Why not make similar
homemade meals from the ideas you get from these
items. For example, lets pick on can pastas with
sauce. How easy is that to make homemade? Boil
the pasta of your choice and add your favorite
canned spaghetti sauce and adjust the seasonings
or even add veggies and make it into a Primavera.

Another favorite is frozen pizza. Instead of
buying frozen pizza try your favorite toppings
over refrigerated crescent rolls. This morning
I made breakfast pizza that only took about
20 minutes total, from start to table. I just
spread out the crescent roll on a baking sheet
and topped with chopped onion, green pepper,
cooked ham (from the Deli), shredded cheese
(Mexican blend); covered with 6 scrambled eggs
and baked for 12 minutes in 375-degree oven.

Also why buy can soups? Especially broth
soups, they are so easy to make at home. One
thing you can do is freeze leftover veggies
seasoned to taste with the liquid you cooked
them in, now you can have a low cost vitamin
packed soup anytime by adding beef stock or
chicken stock and or tomato juice.

How about homemade meatloaf, meatballs
and hamburgers that can be easily prepared
all in one step? Season two or three pounds
of ground turkey and split into thirds. Now
you have three meals prepared and ready to
cook or freeze.

That's just a few examples. I'm sure you
can come up so many more quick and easy meals
that are homemade and healthier for your
family.

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Chef Nick Cavataio is the author of 'Conquering Healthier
Recipes and Beyond,' an cookbook packed with more than
300 mouth-watering recipes you can cook quickly at home.
http://www.conqueringhealthierrecipes.com

Nick Cavataio 99 Hall Road Owego NY, 607-687-5654 mailto:ncavataio@stny.rr.com