Many people are looking for new ways to cook that will taste great, be a break from the old routine, and offer a healthful alternative to fatty, processed foods. This often involves a focus on foods that are high in lean protein and low in saturated fats. Chicken is one excellent choice if you are trying to include more healthy food in your life, as it is generally quite lean and mostly composed of protein.
Healthy chicken recipes can help you reduce your blood cholesterol, keep hypertension in check, and even lose weight without having to sacrifice taste. Chicken is a wonderfully versatile meat that works for almost any cuisine or method of cooking. No matter what you prefer, chicken is a great choice.
Many people are deciding to spice up their salads a little with marinated grilled chicken, to make delicious chicken wraps and Latin American or Asian inspired dishes. There are lots of easy chicken recipes out there. Remember that the chicken you use is going to affect how healthy the dish is and how good it tastes, with cage reared chickens often producing lower quality meat, even if it is less expensive than the alternatives.
One alternative that will still allow you to enjoy great, low fat foods that are high in protein is organic or free range chicken. Be sure to know what each label means. However, these chickens have generally been raised according to certain standards, which improve the health and well being of the animal and the quality of the meat they produce. While it is more expensive, chicken recipes made with organic or other specialty chicken meat are worth the extra cost in terms of flavor and healthiness.
Look for meat that has little fat and is mostly muscle. Trimming fat and removing the skin can also help you cut down on the fat content of your meals. However, you do not have to give up much in the way of taste.
You should also remember to observe correct chicken handling procedures, such as avoiding allowing raw chicken to sit at room temperature. It should always be stored in the coldest part of the refrigerator and used in two to three days. Cooked chicken may sit out for up to two hours, and frozen chicken can keep for as long as a year.
Chicken should always be washed in cold water, and a clean cutting board and knife should be used in all cases. Once the chicken has been prepared, anything that touched the raw meat needs to be cleaned immediately. If you handle your meat correctly, the danger of contamination is significantly less.
The good news is that preparing chicken safely and deliciously is not hard at all, and there are plenty of healthy cooking options out there. Be willing to spend some time thinking about the ways to cook chicken or look on the Internet to see what recipes are available, for healthier, better tasting meals.
