by GEMMA CROTTY
There’s nothing like a good home-cooked meal and the feeling of comfort that comes with it.
Along with being a way to hone your culinary skills, home-cooking also proves beneficial when it comes to your health, and, ultimately, can be advantageous in the prevention of cancer.
There is solid evidence to support this, including a study from 2015. The study, consisting of 9,000 subjects, found that those who cooked 6-7 times a week consumed around 2,160 calories per day on average, with around 81 grams of fat and 119 grams of sugar. This is in contrast to the higher 2,300 calories, 86 grams of fat and 135 grams of sugar consumed each day by people who cooked 0-1 times per week.
Interestingly, it even found that it made no difference whether the regular cooks were trying to lose weight- suggesting that frequently cooking at home is naturally a healthier alternative than eating takeaway or frozen meals.
Fast food is often loaded with calories, with the average order sitting around 1,200. With the standard daily intake for women ranging from 1,600 to 2,400 calories and that for men being 2,000 to 3,000 calories, fast food can occupy much of one’s recommended intake and lead to weight gain.
But when you cook your own meals, it’s easier to watch exactly what you’re eating and how many calories you’re consuming. Furthermore, you can substitute ingredients to your liking, and therefore use better, healthier ingredients.
When it comes to weight and cancer, there is an undeniable link between the two. This is because being overweight or obese has been shown to increase the chances of breast, colon and rectum, endometrium, pancreas, liver, and kidney cancers, as well as others. However, by being accountable for your meals and maintaining a balanced diet, you can decrease your chances of developing cancer and other health issues.
There are heaps of delicious and healthy recipes that are easy to follow at home, and you can find some of these below:
Breakfast
Healthy Banana Waffles– A low- calorie breakfast topped with berries and yoghurt.
Protein-Packed Breakfast Bowl– A filling dish that contains delicious ingredients to get you through the day.
Lunch
Roasted Cauliflower Pizza– Cauliflower is delicious when cooked, but it really shines when used on pizza.
Barbecued Chicken Rice Bowls– A mix of fresh ingredients to keep you going.
Sweet Pea Risotto– A green, vibrant dish that’s as good as it looks.
Dinner
Pan-Fried Chicken with Lemony Roasted Broccoli– A simple dish for when you want something low-effort, yet tasty.
20- Minute Healthy Bolognese– Perfect for when you need to cook in a hurry. Plus, it’s a classic, so you can’t go wrong.
Grilled Ratatouille Linguine– Get all the nutrients you need with this veggie-packed dish.
Salmon Burgers with Cabbage-Apple Slaw– The crunchy slaw balances out the spiciness perfectly in this dish.
Gemma Crotty is a volunteer blog writer for Solaris Cancer Centre from her home in Melbourne. Currently studying a Graduate Diploma in Communication at La Trobe University, she is considering a career in communications or journalism. Gemma has a strong humanities research background from her Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Sydney. She has a keen passion for writing and likes to find new ways to hone her skills and connect to others through her words.
