Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean sacrificing taste or portion size. Recipes for heavy meals—meals high in fat, protein, and carbs—can be delicious, healthy, and fulfilling. Heavy meals are the building blocks of healthy diets. They can provide fuel for exercise, but they are also satisfying enough to allow for occasional indulgences.
Some people are natural when it comes to cooking, and others struggle. And if you’re ever in desperate need of a recipe, you can still turn to a classic heavy meal. Heavy meals—or stews—are simple, hearty dishes that aren’t exactly quick to prepare. But they’re definitely worth the wait. And one easy way to prepare your heaviest meal is with one of these slow cooker recipes.
Eating heavy meals is a great way to satisfy your appetite. There are plenty of healthy reasons to eat the heaviest meal at breakfast, including that your metabolism has been sapped by fasting overnight. But there are times when it’s even more important to eat a heavy meal than at normal times: for example, when you’re trying to lose some weight fast.
6 Tips to Prepare Healthy Heavy Meals
Preparing healthy heavy meals is important, and it’s important that you don’t skip meals altogether. Skipping meals can lead to excessive hunger and overeating later in the day. However, if you’re eating a big meal right after a long workout, those calories go straight to your muscles and tissues for fuel instead of storing them as fat. You can lose more weight by eating heavy meals instead of skipping them.
When most people think of healthy, hearty meals, they think of chicken and vegetables with a healthy serving of brown rice. But heavy meals don’t have to be heavy. Here are a few tips for preparing healthy, hearty meals that you and your family will love.
Use healthy cooking fats or oil .
Healthy cooking fats or oils are slowly being recognized for their health benefits. These fats and oils not only add flavour and richness to your food they also provide your body with a host of nutrients. While trans fats and saturated fats are to be avoided, healthy fats can be beneficial for your health.
Cook in larger quantities to keep food warm .
Healthy meals don’t have to be measly, tiny bites—if you’re cooking for large groups of people, why not cook enough for dinner for two, then freeze the other half for lunch the next day? It’s always good to have healthy, hearty meals on hand because you never know when a friend or loved one will come over or simply need something delicious to eat.
Make up a batch of healthy homemade soup .
Heavy meals are good for you. But traditional heavy meals are going to be heavy and not necessarily healthy. But you can prepare healthy heavy meals. Making up a batch of homemade soup is a great way to bulk up your meals inexpensively.
Try vegetarian or vegan meal options .
Vegetables are an essential part of a healthy diet, and when prepared properly, they can be delicious. A heavy meal should consist of at least 50% vegetables, e.g., steamed broccoli, sweet potatoes, or salad. Unfortunately, heavy meals are often poorly balanced, containing more carbohydrates than protein. Instead of ordering a 6 oz steak or a 3 oz piece of fish, opt for vegetarian or vegan options, e.g., a baked potato with grilled vegetables or a cup of lentils with cooked spinach. Since vegetables are low in calories, eating a big bowl full of them will fill you up without causing an energy crash.
Eat more fish .
Fish is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which our bodies need because it helps keep them healthy. Omega-3 fatty acids also help us maintain a healthy weight, increase our mood and even reduce the risk of heart disease. But for many people, getting enough omega-3 fatty acids can be difficult. The catch-22 is that fish is a great source of these fatty acids, but they are high in mercury, which is bad for our health.
Use whole grains as an ingredient .
One of the best things you can do for your health is to eat whole grains. Whole grains are considered healthy since they offer more fibre, vitamins, and minerals in comparison to refined grains. You can prepare healthier heavy meals by adding whole grains to recipes. A healthy diet can include all kinds of whole grains.
One thing we know for sure: We all love heavy meals. Foods that fill us up. Foods that make us feel satisfied. Foods that give us the appetite-suppressing power to keep us going till lunchtime. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best way to fuel our bodies and give us the nutritional benefits that we need. But there are days when we don’t have the time or energy to chop up fruits and vegetables, on those days we have a heavy meal. But, even though heavy meals are powerful eating options, they can be tough to prepare.
