Here are 4 cooking mistakes you make that are causing you to gain weight

 [Article updated: May 2020] 

Cooking at home seems like a much healthier option than eating out, doesn't it?

A recent study showed that middle-aged women who spent more time cooking at home were more likely to prevent metabolic syndrome.

This study was based more on the concept of cooking at home than on the safety of cooked meals.

In other words, these researchers have mainly emphasized that cooking at home is always a good opportunity to eat healthy.

To succeed in this bet, here are 4 cooking mistakes that make you gain weight without your knowledge. 

You snack while you cook

One of the cooking mistakes that causes you to gain weight is not realizing how much you are eating while preparing your meal.

It's easy to empty one or two glasses of wine, eat cubes of cheese, or gobble down crackers without realizing it.

That thoughtless, unconscious snacking can easily add an extra 300 or 400 calories to your diet.

- The solution:

The obvious solution is that you should stop snacking.

But if you can't help but do it while you're cooking, then consider eating low-calorie raw vegetables like bell pepper or sliced ​​cucumber.

To compensate, you can also reduce some ingredients, starting with the amount of oil you usually use.

You overload your meals with (healthy) carbohydrates

Concerned about their health, many people have managed to switch from white bread and pasta to healthy starches such as quinoa, wild rice or lentils.

This is probably a great decision, as long as you don't fall into the trap of eating excess portions of these healthy foods.

Because if it does, your weight loss efforts will be sabotaged!

As you should know, it is not recommended to eliminate carbohydrates completely from your diet, but rather to eat amounts proportional to your energy needs.

For example, if you spend a lot of time sitting, your serving of starchy foods should be between half a cup and a cup.

This amount is for information only and may be revised upward if you are young and physically active and downward if you are older and exercise less.

This portion should be combined where appropriate with a generous portion of vegetables with lean protein and a little lean fat.

- The solution:

The trick is to switch roles.

The portion of the vegetables in your dish should be the main attraction and that of the starch, will be an accessory or supplement.

You use (a lot) of cheese

Many of us use cheese (not to say too much cheese) in our cooking and it is almost unthinkable to get rid of it.

But we should also know that it represents a direct source of additional calories which will be stored as fat.

Just know that a pack of cheddar cheese contains about 4 times more calories and 9 times more fat than what is found in the breast of a skinless chicken.

While it is a source of protein, it is also a considerable source of fat.

- The solution:

If you don't want to give up cheese entirely, then think of it as a condiment, and use it sparingly.

You indulge in dessert (and too often)

We all have that irresistible little craving for a little something sweet after dinner.

But one cookie can easily turn into three, and one serving of ice cream can easily turn into a whole cup.

The temptation is too strong and our resistance is continually challenged!

- The solution:

The desire for sweets is often fueled by emotions, such as the need for reward or comfort.

It is therefore advisable to focus more on the feelings (which cause them) than on the food itself.

If you can find another healthier way to satisfy your emotional needs, that craving for sweets will naturally diminish until it's gone completely.

If that doesn't work, you can opt for some dark chocolate squares or just make room for that occasional dessert (and of course its extra calorie intake) by reducing the amounts of carbohydrates and fat in your meal. .

It's all about balance, think about it!