As families get busier and busier, some tend to rely on quick meal options that often are not the healthiest. However, with a few simple tips and strategies, you can make your favorite recipes healthier in no time. Use the following five tips to make healthier dinners that are full of flavor instead of extra fat, salt and calories.

 Eat Out Less

One key to eating healthier dinners is to limit the amount of eating out your family does. Restaurant meals can contain hidden fats, sugars and salt. Use your favorite restaurant meals as inspiration for dinner ideas to make at home. By making homemade meals, you are able to control the ingredients that go into your family’s diet.

Make Substitutions

Make healthier substitutions in your cooking. By making small changes to recipes when you cook, you can gradually make huge strides in helping your family enjoy a healthier lifestyle. Try to make the following substitutions when you make dinner for your family:

• Egg substitutes for eggs
• No-stick cooking spray for butter and oil
• Ground turkey or chicken for ground beef or pork
• Whole-grain pasta for regular pasta
• Brown rice for white rice
• Nonfat yogurt for sour cream

These small substitutions can truly make a difference in limiting the amount of sodium, calories and fat that is in your family’s diet.

 Portion Control

Simply paying attention to your portions can greatly cut calories and easily make any meal healthier. Use a smaller plate at dinner to help with portion control.  Not only will you eat less food in one sitting, but you will also always feel more satisfied when you finish your meal.

Cooking Methods

While fried foods do have a flavor that many people enjoy, they are far from healthy. The good news is that there are ways to achieve the fried texture and taste that people love, without all of the fat and calories. There are also alternative cooking methods that infuse just as much flavor into meats as frying. To get a delicious fried texture without all of the fat, try oven-frying. Oven-frying allows you to still get the crispy texture we all love without the added oil and calories. Also, when not oven-frying, use healthier oils such as sunflower, grapeseed, corn or even olive oil if frying in lower temperatures. Always drain or pat dry your fried foods before serving.

 Pump Up the Flavor

Fattening and high-sodium ingredients can definitely add flavor to meals, however they are not worth the negative effect they can have on your health, especially when you realize that you can add a ton of flavor to meals without them. Replace salt, fattening broths and creams with sodium-free seasoning, herbs and lemon juice to add flavor and lose the unhealthy ingredients.

Healthier dinners are within reach. By taking small steps you can make dinner recipes healthier while still ensuring they are still full of the flavors that your family loves!