A Case for Cooking

-Laura S. Burton, RD

As a dietitian, I have noticed that the number of people I see who cook regularly is dwindling rapidly. When individuals disclose how often they eat out, immediately a long list of excuses as to why cooking is not an option for them ensues. The top 5 reasons are as follows: 

1. “I can’t cook”
2. “I don’t have time to cook”
3. “I don’t know what to cook”
4. “Planning meals is overwhelming”
5. “It’s hard to plan healthy meals that will please everyone in my family”

I can relate!  Now although there are tips, shortcuts and resources that can make cooking much easier and more enjoyable (which I’ll share with you in a minute), I won’t argue that the drive-thru isn't still the easiest, quickest option. So what are the benefits of cooking and are they enough to get Americans back in the kitchen? Is cooking really worth it?

Cooking allows you to take control of what goes into your body. When we eat out, our health is at the mercy of food manufacturers, and all they’re concerned with is achieving maximum flavor and maximum shelf-life at minimum cost. Even grilled fish and chicken at restaurants can be loaded with sodium and smothered in high-fat sauces. We must start caring more about what goes into our food, especially when it comes to weight and disease management. Has your physician or dietitian recommended a reduced-sodium meal plan? With cooking, you can easily limit the amount of salt in your foods. Do you have trouble with high blood sugar? Cooking allows you to easily half the amount of rice or pasta in a casserole…and double the amount of vegetables! Heart disease or high cholesterol? You can still enjoy a burger when it’s made at home from extra lean ground turkey breast.  And the best part is that you can customize it based on your taste! Give it some Greek flair by mixing in breadcrumbs, red onions, reduced-fat feta cheese and dill. Be creative!

Set a good example for your family. The kitchen can be such a fun place to bond with your spouse or kids. Children who help their parents in the kitchen will not only develop cooking skills to carry into adulthood; they’ll learn about choosing healthy foods, learn to follow instructions, and realize that putting a little time and energy toward something often results in a great outcome. Cooking will likely foster a child's appreciation of teamwork, as well as give them a sense of ownership over the meal (which may make them more willing to eat it!)

It’s clear that cooking can be beneficial for a multitude of reasons.  But let me also suggest that cooking doesn’t have to be as daunting a task as we make it out to be. In fact, here are a few tips that might just change the way you think about cooking. 

1.  If you can read and follow directions, you can cook! Sure, cooking requires some basic knowledge of measuring, mixing, and heating techniques, but your faithful friends Google and SIRI are always there and willing to help. Simply type in those terms you don’t quite understand, or ask them how to “fold in the egg whites,” for example. Like any new practice, this may require a little extra time in the beginning, but you’ll find that once you understand the basics and get some practice under your belt, cooking will begin to come naturally for even the most anxious beginner chefs.

2. It may be worth it to spend a little extra money on shortcuts. If you’re low on time, purchase the pre-chopped onions rather than a whole onion (it’ll save you time and tears!). Or instead of buying the boxed rice that requires boiling, save time by purchasing the 90-second microwave brown rice in-a-bag.

3. Short on good, healthy recipes? Explore EatRight by UAB’s Nutrition Guidance System. With lots of healthy, easy, and kitchen-tested meals, our recipe collection won’t disappoint. In addition, the Nutrition Guidance System has teamed up with Piggly Wiggly to offer nutrition guidance as you shop! Watch a short promotional video here. Or sign up for one of EatRight by UAB's monthly cooking classes to learn new recipes as well as healthy cooking techniques.

What will you fix for dinner this week?