3 tips on healthy cooking without sacrificing taste

Celebrity Chef RV Manabat has shared his top three tips on how to cook healthier without sacrificing the taste of your dish.

During the Usapang Puso sa Puso (UPP) by the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), Chef RV was joined by PHA Director III and Advocacy Committee Chair Dr. Iris Garcia in creating safe and heart-healthy dishes for the holiday.

During the discussion, Chef RV shared the following tips on how to cook healthier:

1. Keep your dishes simple

Chef RV advised the public to stick to simple recipes that won’t hurt your budget.

“Normally, we overbuy, I'm like that before. When I see the seasonings, the herbs, I'll buy all of that. But I've learned that if you keep it simple, it won't burden your budget and your dish is also straightforward but still delicious,” he said.

2. Don’t overcook

According to Chef RV, it's OK to undercook some dishes as left-overs are usually reheated. He cites noodles as an example.

“If the noodles are overcooked, it's soggy,” he said. And “soggy noodles are also ugly. You want a little bite or crunch to your noodles."

Chef RV said keeping the noodles' texture also means "the nutrients are still alive.” 

3. Keep your food looking beautiful

Beautiful food means colorful food and colorful food means its nutrients are still alive — and more satisfying for those eating it.

The PHA reminded the public to avoid binge drinking and refrain from overconsumption of salty and fatty foods during the holidays due to the increased risk of the holiday heart syndrome.

DOH noted that other than the Holiday Heart Syndrome, among the common holiday health concerns were weight gain, increased high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases, elevated blood sugar, high cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as digestive discomfort and bloating. 

To avoid falling victim to said concerns, the DOH advised the public to maintain proper sleeping hours, manage food intake, stay on top of medication, and remain active even amid holiday celebrations. — LA, GMA Integrated News