We can all agree that making food at home is typically way better — both for the taste aspect and for our health. Making some foods from scratch is one simple way to get your meals tasting so much fresher than a store-bought brand, while also getting to choose each ingredient that goes into your meal.
Many staple items that seem healthy on our grocery store shelves can often contain ingredients to prolong shelf life or sweeten the product. By preparing some things at home, we can cut out the excess and have a wholesome and organic product made right in your own kitchen.
Here’s the best plant-based milk recipe I’ve found, and five other simple swaps to start making at home to improve your health and feel your best:
Plant-based milk
Plant-based milk is one of the easiest staple foods to swap for a homemade option, and the health benefits are what makes going the extra step so worth the time. Though all forms of plant-based milk seem like a good option based on their healthy-looking packaging, many of the companies add sugars, lectins and gellan gum into the mix which can make us bloated and disrupt digestion.
Cashew milk is the easiest recipe I have found for making milk at home that doesn’t require any straining or nut milk bags to make. You can also add any sweetener or vanilla extract to this recipe if you want a sweeter milk. This recipe uses nothing but cashews and water, is completely organic and will last up to a week in the fridge.
Cashew milk: 1 cup cashews, 4 cups water
Start with one cup of organic cashews and soak them in water overnight. After at least 8 hours in the fridge, rinse the cashews and add to the blender with one cup of water. Blend until all chunks are gone and you have a very smooth milk. Then, add the remaining 3 cups of water and blend for the perfect cashew milk.
Granola
Granola is the best staple topping for yogurt and fruit, oatmeal or really anything you want to add a sweet-tasting crunch to. It’s only downside? Most brands add lots of extra sugar, making it more of a sugary treat than a health food.
I find that homemade granola is not only healthier, but also able to be customized to make the perfect blend of oats and seeds that I love. Any granola recipe can be customized by using things like sugar-free/organic syrup, or extra dried fruit and dark chocolate. Follow this recipe for the best antioxidant-filled snack, a sugar-free granola that you’ll want to add to every meal.
Protein Bars
For anyone who wants fast nutrition on the go, a protein bar is always the best snack to keep you full for hours. When it comes to protein bars though, quality ingredients make a world of difference. Protein bars are another food that can be loaded with unnecessary sugar.
This recipe is a 5-ingredient, chewy protein bar that uses organic ingredients and tastes like a dessert. I find that adding a few extra medjool dates gives this recipe a chewier texture that’s very similar to cookie dough.
Vegetable soup
With the colder months upcoming, we turn to warm foods for comfort. Soup is one meal that once you start making from scratch, you’ll never want the canned stuff again. Aside from all the extra sodium that comes from store-bought soups, making your own allows you to add in the freshest veggies possible.
For a satisfying and healthy homemade vegetable soup option, choose an organic and low sodium beef or chicken bone broth. Let simmer and add your favorite vegetables and spices for a homemade vegetable soup. My favorite vegetables to add are potatoes, onion, corn and tomato. I also suggest adding garlic and turmeric into any veggie or broth-based soup for added anti-inflammatory benefits.
Salad Dressing
One of the most practical ways to save money and calories from processed sugar is by making your own salad dressing. By doing this, we can sweeten our salad in a natural way that doesn’t come from unhealthy added ingredients. The sweetest part about it is that many people already have the ingredients in their pantry to make up a fresh vinaigrette dressing.
Check out this guide on how to make your own olive-oil based vinaigrette, plus three variations using vinegar you might have in your own kitchen.
Pesto
A good, basil pesto is one item that absolutely everyone should have in their fridge at all times. It’s safe to say that while store-bought is still satisfying, nothing beats a fresh pesto. Get creative with your pesto and add it to eggs, salads, toast, pasta or pizza. The possibilities are endless.
Use this recipe for the perfect basil, vegan pesto. Add mozzarella cheese if desired or sub pine nuts or cashews for a creamier pesto.
