WHY WE COOK AT HOME
Growing up, it was a rare occasion that we’d eat out at restaurants. There were so many of us to feed that it could end up being quite expensive. Instead, my parents made it a point to invite all 6 of us into the kitchen to learn how to cook or bake. I remember my Dad flipping over an omelette in a special omelette pan, and my mom throwing down stacks of pancakes. Ahhh, the smell of Saturday mornings…
Looking back, there were definitely some meals that were not made with the best ingredients (including: skim milk and various “low fat” products, margarine, vegetable oil, sugary cereals and more). They didn’t know any better, and were victims of the food industry marketing dollars hard at work, as they would stock up on these items during sales at the grocery store.
Now living in NYC for almost 15 years, I know first hand how easy to eat out. As soon as you step outside, you bypass numerous bakeries and inviting restaurants. It’s also way too easy to order in, as there are just about 2 handfuls of apps that we can just lift our fingers to order a meal. The issue here is that the we’re becoming disconnected from our plate, leaving it up to restaurants to make our food decisions for us, which means we’re putting a ton of trust in the unknown.
The habit of cooking was instilled in me as a child, and I truly love the ritual of cooking at home. It gives me the most control over my food choices. But, aside from assisting with the quality of our food, cooking at home brings in many other wonderful benefits and joy! Here are just a few:
Cooking is much cheaper than eating out.
As a CPA, I track all our expenses. [Insert nerd face here.] There was a point in time where we ordered most meals out or ate at almost all our meals spending well over $40-$50 per day per person on food a day. Now that we eat almost all of our meals at home, we spend about half that amount, coming in at roughly $17-$20 per day per person. (Hello, secret vacation & adventure fund!) Who here doesn’t like to save money?
Cooking is a great stress reliever.
When I used to work in Corporate America, I’d eat almost all meals at my desk or out on the run, just about EVERY day of the week. Towards the end of my time working in Finance, more and more I would bring each meal to work, and opt in to eat dinner at home. This means, I’d enjoy the end of my day with late(r) night cooking at home. I found this time to be very special as it helped me get off the screens, and unwind after a hectic day. I noticed I connected with my food as cooking required my full attention. (Many times, my husband would either meal prep or cook for us, so I could either cook or eat when I arrived home. #teamwork )
While cooking can help you become more mindful, on a more serious note, the activity of cooking is used in mental health clinics to help combat depression, anxiety and addiction.
Cooking can be a social activity.
Whether it’s a Tuesday, or a holiday meal, creating a home cooked meal tastes better when you add LOVE. I spend time creating meals with my husband and #soninlove. I also love to cook with friends and family, as I see that they might make a dish differently than I would make it, and play with a variety of ingredients that I wouldn’t necessarily grab to cook with first.
Here’s how you can get started cooking at home…
Build up your food stock.
Leave a list on your fridge for everyone in your family to add to, or keep a list in your phone that everyone has access to keep kitchen essentials and food inventory stocked at all times.
Keep staple items on hand like grains, oils, and spices.
Keep fresh foods, such as fruits and vegetables, coming in frequently. Make it at least a weekly ritual to grocery shop.
Make a date night.
Bring extra love into your kitchen, by inviting your spouse, child or friend to cook with you.
One of you can take the lead as head chef, and the other person can be your sous chef.
Clean while you cook and keep your cooking space neat. You’re more likely to use your kitchen if it’s tidy. #mariekondo
As you have extra hands, use this time to prepare extra ingredients for future meals.
Set the mood.
Play your favorite music and sing along! Enjoy a moment away from screens as aromas burst into the air. Not only does this add more love to your meals, but the end up tasting better. Try it!
We hope you enjoy how we keep home cooking on heavy rotation in our home.
Let us know if you find these basic tips helpful!
We want to know, how often do you cook?