Joe Decker: The World's Fittest Man

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Dear World’s Fittest Man,

I am a 27 year old single guy and I can barely boil water. I'm just finishing law school. Now that I'm not studying all the time, I’m starting to really date in earnest. Since I'm not on the meal plan anymore I've got to feed myself. My buddies say I need a few good cooking tips I can use to impress the chicks, cook for my friends and generally keep myself from going hungry when I'm sick of Mickey D's! I figure they might as well be a healthy ones...any ideas?

Barely boil water

Dear Barely boil water,

I know what you mean about cooking. Sometimes it can be a real drag. When I was in college I wasn’t much of a cook either. But now cooking is a major part of my life. In fact, I even enjoy it now more than ever. The great thing about cooking for yourself is that it’s cheaper and generally much more healthy than eating out.

Here are some quick cooking tips that are healthy and easy. These tips can be applied to lots of different types of foods:

Grilling: This is one of the easiest and healthiest ways to prepare meat or fish. Simply season the meat or fish with a little salt and pepper. You can also season with a little meat seasoning like Emeril’s Essence. Then, drizzle with a teaspoon per serving of extra virgin olive oil. This is the good kind of fat, but that doesn’t mean you should drown the meat in oil. A little goes a long way. Plop it on the grill and you’re good to go. If you don’t have a grill, use your oven broiler instead.
Steaming: Everyone thinks that steaming vegetables makes them bland. I think it’s just the opposite. Steaming can really enhance the flavor of your vegetables, as long as you don’t overcook them. You want to steam the veggies until the point they turn bright in color and still have a little bit of crunch. If you overcook them, then they’ll get soggy and lose a lot of flavor. Season with a little salt and pepper, and if, you like drizzle with fresh lemon juice and a touch of olive oil. Or for a real kick, add a shack of red pepper flakes.
Herbs: Fresh herbs or dired are an easy way to “spice” up any dish. Whether you’re steaming, grilling, or broiling, add some fresh herbs like basil, thyme or rosemary. All of these add lots of savory fragrance and taste to your dish. Then, save a few herbs to garnish your dish at the end, that will really impress your date.

If you want some great recipes like healthy pasta primavera or tasty salmon cakes, you can check out my new book The World’s Fittest You: Four Weeks to Total Fitness (Dutton, 2004)

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