Creative Slow Cooker Uses For Convenience And Health
When you get stuck in that rut of grabbing whatever you have on hand as you rush out the door or are spending tons of money in the fast food drive thru, it is time to do something different. The health and convenience benefits that can be gained simply by owning a slow cooker are enormous.
Hitting the drive thru is extremely convenient but it is just as bad for your health. Whether you are an active single or a busy parent, you can stay healthy and still have that convenience in your kitchen.
The best way to break that cycle is to use a good crockpot to ensure that you have a healthy meal ready at the snap of a finger. Since these cookers allow your food to cook slowly while you go on with your day or while you sleep, it saves you considerable amounts of time. Consider just a couple ways to create your own healthy slow cooker meals with whatever ingredients you happen to have in the kitchen right now.
One way to get creative with a slow cooker is to make your own soup. This is something that can be done with whatever ingredients you have on hand so shopping is not even necessary. Start with chicken broth and add in some sort of meat and whatever frozen vegetables, onions, celery, etc. that you have on hand. Add in water and let it cook.
Other ingredients that may not need as much time can be added in a few hours or so before eating. For example, you could throw in noodles, rice, or potatoes. Whatever is on hand will work! You can season with whatever you have on hand as well.
Dry beans are one of those ultra healthy foods that most people bypass because they take so much time to cook properly. The slow gradual cook time of a crockpot is just perfect for this type of thing. Just toss them in with some water for a healthier option to canned beans.
If you want a real meal, let the beans cook overnight then in the morning add in browned lean ground turkey and/or uncooked whole grain brown rice. You can add in any kind of seasoning or just blend in some melted cheese for something children will really love.
Whatever types of food your taste buds enjoy most, you can do it in a slow cooker. Have some fun amending your favorite recipes!