A lot of people have lost their faith in grocery stores. Nowadays, it’s more fashionable and preferable to buy at farmer’s markets where the produce is fresh and organic, or support local small businesses. After scandals over unfair labor practices and unhealthy additives, people would rather not spend their money making big brands and corporations richer while exploiting workers and putting the health of their consumers at risk.
Because of the internet, it’s also easier for people to make their favorite foods. There are tons of recipes online that offer a healthier and, sometimes, more delicious versions of packaged goods that you can buy in stores.
Here are a few that you can make at home!
Yogurt
Yogurt is the key to making your post-workout smoothies more palatable. You can also add berries, chia seeds, flax seeds, and peanut butter to your yogurt to make a delicious breakfast. It’s very versatile food item, and it has become a necessity in many kitchens. However, you don’t have to keep buying yogurt from the grocery store. You can make it on your own.
There are now devices that are specifically designed to make yogurt available from places like Amazon and Home Depot. However, you don’t need special equipment to make yogurt (it’s just easier if you do). Plus, all you need is milk, heavy cream, and live and active cultures you can get from ready-made yogurt. Then, all you need to do is wait and you’ve got homemade yogurt that’s just as good — if not better — as you get from grocery stores. If you plan to eventually sell it, some manufacturers use milk protein concentrate to serve as a stabilizer.
Worcestershire Sauce
Worcestershire sauce is a staple for many cooks, but most brands of this condiment have unhealthy additives like high fructose corn syrup, caramel coloring, and propylene glycol.
Luckily, it’s not difficult to make your own Worcestershire sauce at home! The most popular recipe you can find online is the following: garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, onion, ginger, salt, cinnamon, pepper, mustard, and water.
Pesto Sauce
Like Worcestershire sauce and yogurt, pesto sauce has also become mainstream due to its versatility and yummy taste. Pesto is mostly made up of basil, garlic, pine nuts, and olive oil. You can add Parmesan cheese or salt if you want to. However, most people use remade pesto sauce from stores because it’s convenient.
But it’s so easy to make your own pesto sauce at home! Just throw all the ingredients in a blender/food processor and you’re good to go. If you want to get real detailed, you can also add vegetables like carrots and zucchini to change the flavor of your pesto sauce.
Coffee Creamer
A lot of people drink coffee or other types of caffeinated beverages in the morning (thanks to Starbucks). But, most people know how bad artificial creamer is for their health. There are new flavors and varieties of these creamers that claim to be healthier, but they’re still processed and contain lots of ingredients like corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup that can make you gain weight and become diabetic faster than you think, according to public health experts.
Luckily, it’s really easy to make your own coffee creamer at home. All you have to do is mix almond milk, coconut oil, Stevie extract, vanilla extract, and peanut butter in a blender until it becomes creamy. You can then transfer this mixture into an airtight container that’s easy to open/close when you need to use it again later.
Oat, Almond, Soy Milk
Cows milk has become less popular recently. Lots of people prefer plant-based milks such as almond, oat, and soy milk. They’re vegan, and they also offer a number of health benefits. Moreover, they’re perfect for those who are lactose-intolerant. Like yogurt, you can also make your own almond, oat, and soy milk too!
To make oat milk, just add oats and water in a blender/food processor before straining the mixture into a container that’s easy to open/close. For almond milk, soak the almonds in water overnight before squeezing out all of their excess liquid. Then, mix them with water and you’ve got almond milk! Lastly, for soy milk, just replace oats with soy beans.
Making your own versions of your favorite foods is not only cheaper, but it’s also healthier. With the help of new technology like yogurt machines and food processors, you can make healthy versions of these popular dishes that are comparable to store-bought products.
