Challenge: Cook seven meals in seven days

A key step towards better health is to try to prepare more food at home, rather than eating out, having takeaway, or buying lots of pre-prepared meals. Home cooking means you have more control over what goes into your food, so you can make smarter choices that will impact your overall wellbeing.

Australia’s Healthy Weight Week is an initiative of the Dietitians Association of Australia, running from 16-22 February, 2015. Your challenge? Skip the takeout, stock up on fresh produce and cook seven meals in seven days.

Why cook at home?

“Research shows that people who prepare food at home are more likely to eat smaller portions and take in fewer kilojoules and less saturated fat, salt and sugar. And in turn, this is more likely to result in a healthy weight,” says Professor Clare Collins, an Accredited Practising Dietitian and a spokesperson for the Dietitians Association of Australia.

“Cooking at home more often is a great way to improve your nutrition and keep your weight in check. You can think of it as a healthy weight weapon – it’s vitally important in the fight against obesity and conditions like heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

“At home you have control over what goes into your meal and how much you serve up. So with a little know-how, you’ll be more likely to cook and eat healthier foods, like vegetables – and in the right amounts.”

Free cookbook by Sprout and the DAA

For a lot of us though, this is easier said than done. If you don’t have a lot confidence in the kitchen, the idea of creating a new meal each night can feel daunting. To help make healthy home cooking easier, Australia’s Healthy Weight Week has teamed up with interactive cooking school Sprout to create a free cookbook, Everyday Healthy, full of nutritious, quick and easy main meals.

“A lack of cooking confidence and a busy life are major barriers to cooking healthy meals at home. Equipping people with the tools to cook low cost, quick, easy and nutritious meals from scratch can be the key to changing eating habits for the better,” says Callum Hann, award-winning celebrity cook and one half of Sprout, along with Accredited Practising Dietitian Themis Chyrssidis.

Download your free copy of the Everyday Healthy: Seasonal, Fresh & Tasty cookbook by Sprout at healthyweightweek.com.au