{"id":12207,"date":"2021-02-11T10:00:52","date_gmt":"2021-02-11T16:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=12207"},"modified":"2021-03-19T15:42:33","modified_gmt":"2021-03-19T20:42:33","slug":"meal-kits-can-help-you-develop-healthy-eating-habits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/meal-kits-can-help-you-develop-healthy-eating-habits\/","title":{"rendered":"Meal kits can help you develop healthy eating habits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Based on the amount of advertising out there, it seems like meal kit delivery services are more popular than ever. So, are these meal kits as healthy as these companies claim? What if you don\u2019t have any skills or experience in the kitchen? Does the food even taste good?<\/p>\n

According to Arianna Watson, a dietitian with OSF HealthCare Sacred Heart Medical Center<\/a> in Danville, the current marketplace for meal kit delivery is full of several options.<\/p>\n

Do meal kits support good nutrition?<\/h2>\n

\"healthyLooking for some help eating healthy? There are meal kits for you.<\/p>\n

\u201cKits like Hello Fresh<\/a> or BistroMD<\/a> actually have dietitians on staff,\u201d Arianna said. \u201cMany of their meals are formulated by dietitians and even doctors. They push for increased fresh vegetables and fruits and lean proteins.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese kits are a good way to start learning to cook,\u201d Arianna said. \u201cThey\u2019re good for younger people learning how to cook. You can learn skills you can use down the road if you decide to start experimenting with your own recipes. It\u2019s a good introduction to the kitchen. They\u2019re also good for big families where parents want to set a good example and establish healthy habits.\u201d<\/p>\n

BistroMD even allows you to pick meals based on any health issues you have. For instance, if you need low-sodium meals, the service has a menu curated for you.<\/p>\n

Meal kits also help make portion control easier.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you order a meal for delivery, you enter how many people will be eating the meal, and you receive a single portion per person,\u201d Arianna said. \u201cSo, you don\u2019t have too big of portions. You can make it yourself and it helps you control what you\u2019re eating.<\/p>\n

\u201cA great part of these services is they tailor to your lifestyle needs, how much time you have to cook and how much of the cooking you want to do. If you are not one with time to cook, there are meal delivery services like Trifecta<\/a>, whose meals come premade. You just heat them up.\u201d<\/p>\n

What do I look for in a healthy meal?<\/h2>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t seen any that have an excessive amount of carbohydrates,\u201d Arianna said. \u201cEven the sandwiches keep the portion low. You won\u2019t get a ton of starchy carbs, either. At most, you\u2019ll get half a cup of quinoa or rice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Look for lean meats, low-starch vegetables and fruit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese services show pictures of many of these meals on their websites, so if you notice a ton of potatoes<\/a>, maybe get something with more green to it,\u201d Arianna said.<\/p>\n

And, if you\u2019ve read this far, Arianna had a message of congratulations.<\/p>\n

\u201cCongrats to whoever reads this,\u201d Arianna said. \u201cYou want to make change and take steps toward getting healthier<\/a>. Be kind to yourself. If you don\u2019t like one thing, there is always a way to figure out what works for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Get started today with a new healthy recipe<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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