Taste the real thing

To know what you like it's not enough. You need to taste the real thing. That means that you need to be familiar with each ingredient enough to tell the real thing from the adulterated item.

So, start your cooking experience in the vegetable isle. Pick produce that has not been wrapped and eat it raw.

Making salads is a good way to have nutritious and tasty meals.

Buy: a variety of greens, lettuces, red and green fruit or vegetables.
Soak the greens in cold water; rinse, and dry with a clean towel. Store them wrapped in a kitchen towel until you are ready to eat them.

Chop your greens, and add chopped fruit or chopped vegetables in contrasting colors and textures.
Make your own dressing.

Simple dressings have three parts oil and one part acid, such as vinegar or citrus juice. Try the first one with lemon or orange juice. You're adding plenty of vitamins on your plate, including the benefits of citrus.  Mix the oil and lemon juice with a teaspoon of mustard and a teaspoon of honey. Adding those last ingredients will allow your dressing to blend better. Taste, then add salt and pepper, a few grains at a time.


A salad is a simple meal. To add protein, cube some cheese, or sprinkle some nuts.

If your greens begin to wilt too much, don't throw them away. We'll keep them wrapped up until we have enough to make a soup.

Keep changing ingredients, trying new fruit and vegetables.
If you use sesame oil, minced ginger and lime juice, you have just made an asian dressing.
I bet you can improvise and make your own with the same pattern: three parts oil, one part acid.