The Dinner Party
“How can I describe it? Good food is like music you can taste, color you can smell. There is excellence all around you. You need only to be aware to stop and savor it.”
Quote from the Disney movie Ratatouille
If you really want to get excited about cooking, watch the Disney movie Ratatouille. No one is more passionate about food and cooking than Remy! Cooking and enjoying your own food at home can be a fun, creative and interactive experience. It can also increase our overall health. We can easily prepare fresh, healthy foods, and share it with others. We can use our imagination or follow a recipe. Both can feel fulfilling. But we also live in a time where getting food ordered and delivered is as easy as opening an app and confirming a delivery time. When our schedules are packed whether with kid’s activities or work commitments, many times it is just easier to order something. And for others, the idea of cooking a meal may feel daunting. These are all real constraints and life situations. Let’s get into the weeds and discuss the benefits and barriers to adopting this healthy habit.
There are many benefits to shopping for, preparing and eating home cooked meals.
You can control the ingredients, so you know exactly what you are eating. This is true for everyone but even more applicable to those with sensitivities, allergies and for people working to eat healthier.
It can help you manage your weight and intake. “Even the “best” option on a restaurant menu can still pack a shocking amount of calories, sodium, fat and sugar that you likely wouldn’t have included if you were making the meal yourself. No matter the restaurant, the food is almost always more about taste than nutrition-that’s what keeps customers coming back for more.” (Wicks, 2022)
Cooking can be fun! Whether you cook alone or make it a group activity, preparing your own food can be a truly enjoyable experience. Vegetables come in all shapes and colors which can be a treat for visual people. Introducing even simple spices can create intoxicating aromas. And textures a treat for your palate. When we take time to appreciate the different aspects of what we cook with, it can be a party for our senses! Some people also enjoy adding music to the process – the sky is the limit!
Experiment and use your creativity. Whether experimenting means finding a new recipe or going full on renegade, searching the pantry and refrigerator for what you have on hand, you can get those creative juices flowing.
When we cook and eat at home, we can better manage portions. We can choose to prepare only what we need, or we can make extra so that we have healthy leftovers. A simple trick is to have a supply of containers that are ready and accessible when you are preparing and serving your meal.
Cooking at home for many is also a social and educational activity. Many people have a family to feed. Home preparation is a great way to teach others about ingredients, how to find and follow recipes, and practice what we would like others to embrace as well. Sitting down to a meal together allows us to connect while enjoying good healthy food. It also is a chance to be fully present. This is a big win.
Now that we have covered some of the benefits, let’s talk about some potential barriers.
The time to cook can be an issue. Many people talk to me about finding time to be in the kitchen, while others talk about being able to get to the grocery store. This may require some planning and preparation. Some of my clients do meal preparation on the weekend to help cut down cooking time and decision making during the week. This can be very helpful and reduce the stress of trying to figure out what you are going to make in the moment – when we all know those delivery apps call out the loudest.
Access to fresh and healthy ingredients. While many of us have access to a variety of grocery stores and can either pop by or have groceries delivered, there are people who live in areas where food may not be as accessible, or the cost of fresh ingredients may be expensive. In these cases, creativity becomes more important and knowing what community resources are available can make a difference. More community food pantries these days also have fresh produce and ingredients available. For some families working with limited ingredients, there are free apps that you can use to check off what you have in the house and find recipes working with those items.
It can feel daunting if you really don’t know how to select and cook a variety of ingredients. Cooking is not fun for some people. They are just not sure where to begin. There are so many ways to address this. Find a simple cookbook for beginners and experiment with recipes. Watch a video online. Ask a friend for help. Attend a cooking class. These are all good options.
It can take more planning. I am always trying to think of ideas of how to simplify, so here is one of my favorites. I have half a dozen core meals that I like to make, love to eat and are easy. That is the basis for my week. Then, depending on my weekly schedule and how creative I feel, I might look for something new to throw in once a week. Additionally, you can cook some base ingredients that you store in the refrigerator and create different combinations. Maybe you cook chicken for dinner one evening and make enough to throw some in a stir fry the next day or put it on top of a salad for lunch. Make it easy on yourself.
Picky eaters can create additional challenges. This is real and I did have a picky eater in my house for years. You might create meal options that work with some of the basics that picky eaters will like and then adapt them to your liking. This can help with keeping it palatable for those turned up noses while keeping it interesting for others.
While there can indeed be barriers, there are so many benefits to cooking at home. And for those hoping to improve their health, this is a basic practice that you can adopt. For those who eat out a lot, I get the convenience and I am not suggesting that you stop doing that all together. For those new to this idea, start with one meal a week cooked at home. This does not have to be overwhelming. It is just considering the benefits and taking a small step forward.
As a health coach, I am here to partner with you as you explore everything from grocery shopping to cooking healthy meals when time is short. I love hearing clients talk about their kitchen successes and challenges. It can feel empowering to select, prepare, cook, and eat good food! Sometimes we just may need help finding our way through. The good news is anyone can cook. It just takes some planning and practice. We also have our own learning curve, and I can meet you wherever you are. Are you ready to embrace what is possible? You can be an active participant creating a healthier life. It just takes a single step to move ahead. I am here to explore this with you, one step at a time.
Do me a favor, look in the mirror today and see your beautiful, shining face and know you are worth it! I believe in you and care deeply about your health and wellbeing.
Until next time…
Wicks, L. (2022, December 7). Eating Well. Retrieved from Eating Well: https://www.eatingwell.com/article/291719/why-cooking-no-matter-the-recipe-is-better-for-your-health/
