Tip #9 Reheat and repeat

This is an odd tip. But I do think knowing the best way to reheat your leftovers can vastly improve your consumption of them! Meaning: things taste better when cooked or reheated correctly. We got pizza last night- it's been "one of those weeks" and the pizza place was running "one of those deals". Pizza CAN be a healthy meal. If the crust isn't oozing oil and the toppings aren't all fat-filled. Hawaiian and Veggie pizzas are 2 of the healthiest kinds. But I always found reheating pizza could often ruin it. Maybe that's why people started eating it cold? Who knows. Veggie pizzas invariably have soggy crusts next day due to water-filled veggies. Pineapple can do that too. Some cheese is soft and the texture is off when it's reheated. So I found that a quick turn in a non-stick pan (crisps the crust) and a minute or 2 under the broiler (gets the cheese sizzling) can vastly improve reheated pizza. In fact, it tastes almost as good as the night it was freshly made (ok, I said ALMOST).

Reheating leftovers applies to lunches the next day, which really does have healthy applications. People who pack leftovers for lunch spend less money (of course) and are much more likely to be eating healthier than those who eat out. I know stay at home wives whose husbands refuse to take leftovers (or pack a sandwich) for lunch at work. But my dad who just retired calculated he saved an estimated $12,500 over his career by packing his lunch. I also discovered that many people don't know how to reheat foods in the microwave properly, my husband being one of them! We have worked on skills over the years such as using a power level instead of just microwaving on high and now I think he enjoys his leftovers for lunch much more. Here are some tips to reheating your leftovers: cut larger pieces of meat into smaller chunks. Make a "doughnut" out of your leftovers, leaving a hole in the middle- your food will reheat more evenly. Always use a lower power to reheat- I only use high to boil water. Power level 60% for 2-3 minutes is usually a good place to start. If you can separate any "carbs" from the rest of your leftovers, heat them last and separate. Tortillas, breads, pasta and even rice can get tough if heated too fast and too long. Good luck eating up those leftovers!

~Here's to Healthy Eating