Lately, a few of my clients have told me that they can’t prepare food for themselves at home because they don’t know how to cook. I hear this a lot in casual conversation as well. It’s easy to fall into this trap and end up buying prepared foods and eating out. And, if that’s what you want to do, that’s totally cool. But, I have a feeling that if you’re reading this, you know that it’s not the best option for you.
1. When you eat out, you never know what it is in your food or how it has been prepared. You can get a basic idea, but you can’t see what’s happening in that kitchen.
2. It’s less expensive. The cost of eating out or ordering take out can pile pretty darn high. Just look at how much you spent on eating out in the past month. You can make great meals for yourself at a fraction of the price.
3. Prepackaged foods are often high in sugar and salt and contain preservatives. The food you eat is an integral part of your well-being. If you are looking to improve your health, home cooked food is a vital component.
4. For me (and I know it’s not everyone, but I have faith that you can get there!), cooking is therapeutic. It’s a way to focus the mind and to feel connected to what is nourishing your body. Food gives us our energy, our life force. It’s also an opportunity to create something. What fun!
5. If you are dealing with any sort of health issue, food literally can be your medicine. If you learn how to use it properly, you can improve almost any health issue dramatically.
For those of you in the “But I don’t know how to cook” boat, here are my words of wisdom for ya:
1. First of all, I hear ya, I really do. I was in the same boat at one point. Cooking, just like anything else, is something you have to learn. A lot of us weren’t taught how to cook by our parents. And unless we went to culinary school, we weren’t taught in middle school, high school or college. The first step is to realize that cooking is a learned skill like any other.
2. You’re not going to be great at it right away. Well, some of you may be, but for more of us it’s a learning curve. There are endless possibilities with cooking. I remember when I started getting into gluten free baking. At first, I was really terrible at it. I had no idea what the difference was between a coconut powder or coconut flour. How was I supposed to know? I still have major blunders, like making millet for the first time a few weeks ago. The first few times you try something new you might screw it up. Just like if you try skiing for the first time. You will probably fall a few times before you get the hang of it. Be easy on yourself and don’t give up!
3. Keep it simple. Steaming veggies or making a whole grain like brown rice or quinoa is a great place to start. You’ll learn your flavor/spice preferences and the style of cooking (braising, boiling, steaming, roasting, baking etc) you prefer over time. Enjoy the discovery process! You don’t have to be fancy about cooking. The simplest foods are often the best.
4. Remember, no one was born knowing how to speak, walk or cook! You may not know how to cook now, but that means nothing about the future. It’s your choice.
5. You can always come to one of my cooking classes if you’re looking for some inspiration! I am also available for private consultations. Just send me an email here.