Home Cooking

I didn't grow up in this country, and maybe it was different here when I was a kid too, but we ate dinner at home, together.

These days, cooking a meal and sitting around a table to eat doesn't seem to happen very often, yet it is one of the fundamental parts of living a healthy life. Cooking at home, and enjoying your meal with family or friends brings so many benefits, yet we still opt to pick up Chipotle because life is a little too hectic. Statistics estimate that under a third of Americans eat together as a family more than two times a week. That is shocking! I truly think that most Americans spend more time watching cooking shows than they do actually cooking. 

In our family, we make it a priority to eat together at home despite our crazy schedules. Some days, dinner is a little later than I would like to fit around my daughters dance schedule. But, at the end of the day, we cook and eat together. It is our time to connect after our day, and share what is going on in our lives.

Home cooking is good for your health and your wallet. When you cook, and I mean from scratch, not heating up a premade meal, you KNOW what is in your food. You know it is free of preservatives, and when you shop carefully, it can be free of chemicals, GMO's, and anything else you wish to avoid. There is also something special about cooking with your family. The food comes with a different energy inside, and a big dose of love. When you cook at home, you aren't creating food laden with fats or sugars. You can make delicious, healthy choices instead. Add up what you spend on take away or eating out each week. Not only can it be expensive, it is incredibly unlikely that it is made with healthy ingredients, and most likely contains far too many calories. 

It is especially beneficial for kids to eat with their families. There are various studies that suggest eating together increases your child's happiness, produces healthier relationships, better health and better grades. A child also forms a stronger relationship  with their parents with the time they spend talking over dinner, which is probably the reason that family meals are seen to lead to kids staying out of trouble.

Like many families, our schedules are a little hectic. My husband and I have always shared cooking, but it was always a spare of the moment decision who was cooking that night. It use to drain me scrambling at the last moment and truly became a chore. These days, we split the cooking during the week and each know which days we are on duty. It works so much better! I know to start thinking about what I want to cook earlier in the day in case I need to soak grains or beans. I also know that the nights I am "off" I don't have to think about it at all. We also decided that whoever cooks also cleans, that way the other person gets the night off completely. These days I enjoy my nights to cook, and my nights off!

We also decided it was important that our teenager learn to cook. One night a week, she is in charge of meal planning and cooking with the help of one of us. She learns about putting together a balanced meal, how to use a knife, general cooking skills, and gets to share in the whole process of creating a meal. 

I know it is easy to find reasons NOT to cook - the biggest seem to be lack of time or lack of cooking skills, but both of these can be easily resolved. Take some time to prep your meals or veggies on a weekend. When I know I have a busy week, I like to prepare mason jar salads for my lunch or a big batch of soup. When I come back from the grocery store, I will often prep vegetables - clean and wash the kale, or dice some veggies for a stir fry or curry. We also have a handful of "go to" recipes or meals that are quick and easy during the week. It might be a veggie taco night, or a black bean salad - something that is fresh, yummy, and easy to throw together on a weeknight. I also cook grains for a few days at a time. If we are having quinoa, I will often make extra for the following day. I have a handful of favorite chefs I follow online, and when I am stuck for ideas, I check out their recipe postings.

Home cooking doesn't need to be fancy. Keep it simple and find the fresh, healthy meals that work for your family. If you eat out a lot, or eat separately, try adding one meal a week that you cook and eat together, then add another night until you are eating at home, together, more than not. So, what is holding you back?