Embracing the act of cooking real food can transform your health. It's that simple!
Evidence suggests that developing cooking and food preparation skills is the single most important thing we can do to create a healthy, sustainable eating habits. According to a study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition, people who frequently cook dinner at home eat healthier and consume fewer calories than those who cook less.
Get back in the kitchen to prepare real, whole foods and relax into cooking as a form of self-care!
One of the biggest barriers to eating healthily can be not knowing how to cook your own food so that it is both nutritious and enjoyable. If you are lacking experience in the kitchen it can be intimidating figuring out where to start. The best thing to do is jump right into it! Every mistake will only add to your experience and knowledge and make you a better cook.
I’ve always enjoyed cooking, but a turning point in my life was when I was able to use food as therapy. Tackling a new recipe or mastering a new technique is an amazing confidence booster, and that confidence spills over into other areas of your life. When you’re able to cook for yourself you are taking control of your health, your weight, and your energy levels.
Whenever I used to feel down or stuck, cooking gave me focus, and made me feel productive. It has always been an avenue to get my creative juices flowing and to try new things! There is no judgement in the kitchen. There is no real risk, just reward! I love to cook for others, as well as for myself. It’s an amazing way to get people together and to just put a smile on everyone’s faces. Now this love has spilled over into my career, and I am so lucky to have the opportunity to work with so many incredible people who are looking to enhance their nutrition, and get the most out of their lives.
Planning is Essential
Set a date with yourself once a week to do meal prep for the week, or a time each day to spend making something special for yourself. I look forward to it! I wear my comfiest clothes, and have my favourite juice ready, and I put on my banging cooking play list. It’s my time and I love it! I understand that life is busy, and it can be hard to find time for yourself. As your personal nutritionist I can help you get started by creating an individualized nutrition plan, taking you on an educational grocery tour, and reviewing your pantry contents. I can also give one on one cooking lessons in your home, and plan and prep 7 days worth of healthy meals. Sometimes I get home after a long day, and realize that I haven’t had time to do my own shopping or meal prep, let alone cook. It’s perfectly natural to place other things at the top of your list of priorities, whether it be your children, your spouse, extended family members, friends, or work. But it is essential for your health and wellness to put the right fuel in your body.
Get Organized
Being organized, and knowing that you have all of your meals prepared and ready to go, will leave you at ease and with a sense of calm. I take the time to cook several meals at once, then portion them out for the week. This strategy allows me to focus more of my time and energy on other things throughout the week, fuelled by homemade healthy nourishing food. It is very easy to forget to plan, and end up skipping meals or eating something that you know isn’t a good choice. But those poor choices will catch up to you in the way that you feel, and the way that you look. You can begin with something as simple as chopping up your favourite vegetables the night before to add to your morning omelet, or making your salad dressing from scratch to use for the week. Here are five quick and easy ways that a busy person can ensure they’re eating well without compromising their schedule.
Invest In Lots Of Cookbooks
One of the best ways to fall in love with cooking is to immerse yourself in a variety of cookbooks. I love finding cookbooks that inspire me to try a new ingredient or re-imagine a favourite dish.
Play Around With Seasoning
Good seasoning is what takes your meal from ‘oh nice’ to ‘yep I’ll have more of that!’. The key is to use fresh ingredients as much as possible. Stock up on basics such as a good quality olive oil, organic coconut oil, organic vegetable stock, Himalayan salt, spices, seasoning, fresh and dried herbs.
Give Yourself Time To Cook
I learnt to love and enjoy cooking by giving myself more time to cook. Instead of cramming it between errands and rushing around, plonking the pans and rummaging through the pantry, I slowed down. It isn’t a race against the clock. You’ll feel the difference, play with more ingredients and experiment with different spices when you’ve given yourself the time to actually relish being in the present moment.
Cook Once, Eat A Couple Of Times
Feeling inspired to cook from scratch three times a day isn’t always easy. For that reason always double up on my portions and meal prep ahead of time. This makes cooking so exciting as you have endless possibilities with your leftovers.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Spend a few minutes each day cleaning your kitchen and weekly organizing your fridge and pantry. Make it inviting and clutter free. Let it be space that you enjoy spending time in. After all the kitchen really is the heart of your home.
As you add structure to your cooking and eating routines, you can extend this discipline to other areas of your life. Start to make wellness dates with yourself. Establish a calming yoga routine before you go to bed at night, or try a daily 20 minute walk on your lunch break. If you write it down and make it official you’re more likely to complete your goal. It is so nourishing for your body and therapeutic for your mind. Try it
Get in Touch
I am now a meal prep specialist and have taught myself and many clients to get organized in the kitchen. I also teach how to grocery shop in a one-on-one educational grocery tour at a location close to my clients’ home. We go over how to read nutritional labels, and what to buy to keep your pantry fully stocked with the healthy essentials. This is followed by a one-on-one cooking session based around a personalized nutrition plan created for the client’s specific health goals. Productivity at its finest! I love teaching my clients to enhance their lifestyle through nutrition.
If you need help with meal ideas or are looking to book a nutrition consultation to discuss further health goals, book an appointment with me at idilsworld.com
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This was a great read, can't wait to implement some these techniques