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Cooking at home may be daunting to those of you lacking in culinary skills and free time, but it can be simpler and easier than you think, and the health benefits are totally worth it. Not only will you be able to get a healthier diet but cooking at home is also beneficial for your mental wellbeing. Start simple and remember to try to enjoy it! There are many advantages to eating at home.
Fewer additives and nasty chemicals
Processed food is often high in chemical additives, hormones and not to mention calories. A shop-bought pasta sauce, for example, has a much higher amount of sugar and salt, plus a lot of hidden chemicals. These all have an adverse effect on your brain and mental outlook. You could show signs of depression and fatigue, and even increased stress and anxiety. The extra calories won’t do much for your waistline either. A homemade tomato sauce is quick and simple and doesn’t contain all that gunk.
Fresher, more wholesome meals
If you’re feeding a family, friends, or just yourself, don’t you all deserve a decent meal? A fresher, wholesome, homecooked meal with have you looking and feeling better, and give you an energy boost. You’ll be able to control what you put in your body and look after your weight. Try to get a balanced diet, without skimping on taste. There are plenty of recipe suggestions online.
The more natural, the better
It’s a misconception that cooking at home has to be complicated and time-consuming in order to produce good quality meals. In fact, the most simple and natural dishes are the tastiest. A couple of well-selected fresh ingredients are key. Think about the delicious simplicity of the Mediterranean diet, based on good olive oil, fresh tomatoes, and seasonal veg. Check out what’s in season locally and try shopping at an organic green-grocer. They’ll be able to give you cooking advice as well.
Cooking can be fun
It’s a great way to get people together and it’s proven that giving people you care about food is very rewarding, it’s like giving them a little bit of love. Get friends and family to cook together, you could have a homemade pizza party, or try out fun desserts like a homemade marble cake, recipe here. If you find cooking stressful, stick to simple recipes and try to get in the mood for it. You could put on some music or have a glass of wine, plan your weekly menu and meal prep plan, order groceries, including making sure to stock-up and order stone crab claws online, and let yourself have fun with it. It’s not a big deal if your recipes go wrong at first, you’ll soon learn new tricks.
How to fit cooking into your busy schedule
There are ways around this. If you work all day, you could invest in a slow-cooker so you can leave your dinner being prepared all day, and come home to it ready. Some of the best recipes are the most simple and there are plenty of delicious one-pot meals, either way, you can just throw things in.
