It wasn’t until hitting my late 20s that I really began enjoying cooking meals at home. Prior to then, there was a lot of cereal, smoothies, Panera, and Chipotle for dinner. I was always happy to have something quick and convenient that didn’t require mess clean up. When I did cook, rice and beans was my specialty. Even though I’d often eat take-out, I still felt I was making healthy food choices…. that was until I realized how much sodium was in my Chipotle bowl.
Once I began studying at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, lots of things changed. I realized I needed to pick up my cooking game! Learning about things like ancient grains, herbs and spices, and nutrient packed super greens made me realize I needed more of these in my life. I began wanting to control things like the freshness of ingredients, sodium levels, where my food came from, etc.
After getting better in the kitchen, and now especially after having two babies, I’m cooking dinner at home 99% of the time, and enjoying the creativity of it.
Why home cooking is the best cooking
It gives you more control over your health. You control the ingredients, and how much fat, sugar, salt, etc. is on your plate [restaurant dishes tend to have a lot of salt]. It’s also a good money saver.
Here are some of the things I’ve done to get myself cooking more at home.
9 Tips to Help Get You Cooking at Home
1. Invest in good tools.
A good knife set, a butcher block or cutting board set, a cast iron skillet and/or dutch oven… these things can make a world of difference to your cooking experience.
When we got married, Aaron and I received a knife set and a butcher block as wedding gifts. Game. Changer. I didn’t know what I was missing before having these. The knives that I previously used were so dull and small, and the cutting boards were plastic and flimsy. Prepping food instantly became easier, quicker, and so much less of a hassle with the right tools.
2. Have clear counter space
There’s nothing more stressful to me in the kitchen than having a cluttered space. Keep your counter clean form all the non-essential stuff.
3. Stock the pantry and the freezer
Putting a meal together is so much easier when you have ingredients on hand to pull from. Stock your pantry with things like seasonings, oils, grains, pasta, beans, and sauces. Stock your freezer with things like fish, meats, frozen veggies, frozen fruits and bread.
4. Try a grocery delivery or pick-up service
A grocery delivery or pick-up service can be a godsend when you’re pressed for time or just don’t want to deal with the grocery store runs. I’m currently using Thrive Market and ButcherBox and love the quality and convenience.
5. Have an arsenal of meal ideas
Write down your favorite recipes. Make a recipe book. Create Pinterest boards with your favorite meal ideas. Whatever way you like to stay organized, just have a place where you can reference your favorite recipes when you’re drawing a blank.
6. Prep for the week ahead
Brainstorm and write down your weekly dinner menu ideas so you know what groceries to get. Once you have all your groceries, it can be especially helpful if you take a little time to pre-wash the fruits and veggies… it makes it easier to just grab from the fridge and get straight to cutting and cooking when the time comes.
7. Use an InstantPot or slow cooker
I love my InstantPot. Meals that used to take hours cooking, are now ready literally in minutes. It’s like having a slow cooker, a pressure cooker, and a skillet all in one. It’s a huge time saver. Slow cookers are great if you want to just set it and forget it… put everything in in the morning, and your meal’s ready in the afternoon. I love not having to worry about splattered grease, or loads of dirty pots and pans to clean up.
8. Make large portions and use the leftovers
One of my favorite things to make in the InstantPot is a whole chicken. We’ll eat chicken and veggies with rice the first night, and the second night there’s usually enough left over to make a chicken salad, chicken burrito, chicken pizza… whatever chicken dish is on my mind. Do this with any food. Leftovers just make life easier.
9. Enjoy the process
Turn on your favorite music or a podcast. Pour a glass of wine or kombucha. Get creative in the kitchen, and enjoy the process.
What are your favorite ways to stay motivated in the kitchen?
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