Mastering your kitchen can seem intimidating, especially when you have so much other stuff going on in your life.

It’s definitely easier to pick up a pre-made meal or order in, but we all know that’s typically not the healthiest option. Even if you do find time to cook at home, you might feel like you’re floundering a little in terms of healthy options.

Nealy Fischer, founder of The Flexible Chef and author of the new book, Food You Want For The Life You Crave, encourages you to ditch perfection in the kitchen and focus on creating meals that fit within your lifestyle. According to Nealy, by preparing meals at home, a person immediately becomes more conscious about what you’re putting into your body. At the same time, healthy cooking doesn’t need to be complicated.

And, it’s okay to “cheat” a little if you’re short on time. For example, you can buy a rotisserie chicken or meat that’s already been cut up/shredded and use that to add protein to a nice green salad. Eggs for dinner are perfectly acceptable, too.

Another “hack” Nealy suggests is to really watch the sugar in the foods you make. For baked goods, you can generally cut by 1/4 to 1/2. If you’re making homemade salad dressings or sauces, you might be able to cut the sugar altogether. It’s okay to play around with recipes — you don’t have to follow them to a T.

Kids aren’t the only ones who don’t get enough veggies; adults struggle with this as well. Try adding veggies to omelets, marinara sauces and lasagna, or put shredded zucchini and carrots into muffins.

Finally, revamp how you prepare certain foods. Instead of deep frying, pan fry. Instead of sauteing, steam.

Even if you only have a basic understanding of cooking, these tips will have you preparing healthier meals immediately.

Photo by Eaters Collective on Unsplash