7 Healthy Cooking Secrets (PHOTOS)

Achieving a good diet depends on nutrition awareness, smart food choices and healthy cooking methods. Here are 7 healthy cooking tips to add to your lifestyle.

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Achieving a good diet depends on nutrition awareness, smart food choices and healthy cooking methods. Take away one of these elements and it can be difficult to maintain or lose weight. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that Americans, in general, ingest too many calories and too high a proportion of salt, sugar, fat and cholesterol. Obesity, heart problems and other chronic diseases are the result. Thanks to public health initiatives, however, things are changing. As the American diet evolves, restaurant chefs and home cooks increasingly create lighter, more nutritious meals. By drawing on a handful of healthy cooking secrets, you can, too.