In today’s on-the-go world, it seems pretty convenient to pick up a warm bag of food via a drive-thru window. It’s not too expensive, it tastes pretty good, and it’s quick. However, this routine might not be the best one for you if you are concentrating on health goals. Cooking at home can provide better nutrients, at better prices. And learning something new never hurts, either! Here is a look at how home cooking can add to your overall quality of life.
Peace of Mind
When it comes to food safety, standards are pretty strict. Temperatures, food handling techniques, and expiration dates all need to be well-controlled for the safest of meals. Most restaurants do a great job and pay plenty of attention to food safety standards. But it’s not uncommon to hear complaints from friends and family about food poisoning. Plenty of people have become ill due to foodborne illnesses, and they just can’t seem to track down which restaurant was the culprit.
If you are cooking at home and paying close attention to your ingredients, you’ll be better able to avoid any sicknesses caused by what you consume.
Quality Food
If you are making something in your own kitchen, you can control what goes in it. Use organic vegetables if you prefer them. Hate onions and pickles? Leave them off your home cooked burger! Want some more fiber? Add some chia seeds to your breakfast smoothie. When you control everything from purchasing ingredients to using them, you know exactly what you’re getting out of a meal.
Learning Something New
Continuing our education well into adulthood can make us better people with more resources to call on when we really need them. Mental strength can be built just like other muscles, and learning something new can be a rewarding experience that helps you grow. With learning how to cook, not only do you get to feel good about mastering (or at least trying to master) a new skill, you’ll also be able to cook dinners for friends, offer better snacks to guests, and feed your family something different from “the usual.”
Exploring New Tastes
Sometimes we need a little push to try a new type of cuisine. If we cook at home, we are more likely to actually try a new meal. This can range from a whole new type of ethnic food, or just a vegetable that we’ve never cooked with before.
Avoiding Allergens
This one’s not for everybody, but if you are sensitive or allergic to certain foods, you can more easily control your exposure by cooking at home. Make those pancakes with gluten-free flour! Leave the nuts out of the Kung Pao chicken. Swap out regular milk for almond milk in your smoothie.
This same concept is true for people who are trying to maintain a cruelty-free diet. Instead of having to ask a waiter about a specific ingredient, you’ll be able to purchase the right stuff from the get-go before it ever hits the frying pan.
Hello, I am Cristy. I love cooking but what I love most is keeping my kitchen tools and appliances top notch. I enjoy writing about everything I have learned around the kitchen. I believe that keeping your kitchen tools well cleaned and maintained produces the best dishes and drinks. Besides writing and cooking I enjoy traveling, camping, hiking and music.