As the saying goes, “reality bites”, when it comes to our intentions to be healthier and put quality meals on the table for the family. The reality is more women are working outside the home, even more inside the home, our children get more involved as they grow, we get more involved, we take too much on, don’t say “no” as much as we should, and adding anything more to our “to-do” list is not happening. We are in a totally different world than our mothers and grandmothers. Is it that we are too busy (I can’t stand those two words btw) or is it simply we’re not focusing on what is truly important in our life? Versus just filling in that space, that time, with fillers that really don’t matter?
Anyone will tell you that cooking more will give you the best results when it comes to:
- Knowing what is in your food
- Controlling the quality of your ingredients
- Giving you and your family the most nutritious options possible
- Oh, and it comes with a lot of love and pride J
So why aren’t we doing it more? (I’d love for you to comment below on why you aren’t making cooking a part of your day- we may share some similar reasons but I’d love to learn others) For me it was:
- I felt I didn’t know how to cook
- I assumed it meant always being in a cookbook with a 2 page recipe
- I thought I didn’t have time (I mean, I was getting home after 7pm from work)
- I was lazy- it was way too easy to grab something at the train station or do a drive through
- I wasn’t connected with my WHY and HOW food nourished me versus it simply filling me, being fast, easy, and no clean up.
Maria Rodale, CEO of Rodale, which publishes Prevention, Women’s Health, and others talks openly about this. Maria is also a co-chair of the Rodale Institute, which conducts scientific research on organic farming. She has a new cookbook out called Scratch that you can get on Amazon. It’s not a complicated cook book- and it’s definitely not for the savvy chef. It’s for folks that would love to get in the kitchen, but aren’t sure how, and assume it has to be grueling or destructive. Here are some of Maria’s lessons she talks about in her book:
- Cooking from scratch is often easier than cooking from a mix- it honestly is.
- Homemade meals create community and connectivity with your family- I cannot say this more. I see a disconnect with so many families today. We are running around like chickens. Slowing down and eating a meal together is one way to check in, breathe, and just spread some relaxing love around that table. Maybe your neighbor is a widower and you want to invite him over for dinner. Would you ever ask, “Would you like to come over for some (fill in your fast food joint)?”
- Delicious is more important than perfect- don’t feel you need to be on the Food Network to cook. Most of my meals are hodge podges of items that I experiment with. I rarely follow a recipe. If it tastes like crap then there’s always a plan B.
- Judge what you eat, not what others eat. Like we tell our kids, mind our own business and we’ll be just fine.
- Cook without expectations, from either your meals or those that eat them
- Baking warms the heart and soul, even if it includes sugar- eating your sister’s homemade yogurt cake with fresh whipped cream isn’t going to kill you that night. It’s eating sugar every single day that matters and making everyday choices that affect you long-term. Enjoy a baked item made with love.
- It’s ok to leave a little something on your plate. Clean Plate Club no more! Teach this to your children as well.
Here are my tips to avoid nervous breakdowns and ignite the cook inside you:
- Time is made- and you have the time to put nutritious meals on your table. If you find you don’t have 30 minutes to make dinner (yes, only 30 minutes!) then you need to look at your day and what things may be filling your day versus fulfilling it. Wake up 30 minutes earlier with some earthy Pandora and warm coffee to get you going before the world is up. Or instead, spend a couple hours on a Sunday prepping meals for the week- even just chopping the veggies.
- You are the only one in charge of your health- and your family’s up to a certain point.
- Use your resources: batch cooking classes, meal kit delivery, meal planning tools (I have some!), you make 3 meals and your friend makes 3 meals- and swap! There are too many resources out there for busy women, you just have to implement.
- Start out small, don’t try to invent Rome in a day. Maybe cook a couple dinners next week and add on as you get into the groove.
- Don’t make it complicated! A simple fish (12 min) and grilled or roasted veggies (20 min max) make a fabulous dinner. Need a grain? Heat up some brown rice in the micro (yes, I use a microwave at times) for 90 seconds. Don’t feel you need to live up to unrealistic expectations on a cooking show or book. They are there to inspire us, entertain us, and give us ideas for a day when maybe we do have more time to make their dishes. I would love to be in my denim shirt like Ina, in my kitchen of my Hampton’s home, no responsibility other than getting flowers, inviting fabulous people over, cooking with no interruptions, and sitting out on my patio with twinkle lights and a fire pit. God that sounds amazing. But it will never happen for me- it’s not my life nor story.
You have got this. You have to. At least the majority of the week. See how you feel, how it may be therapeutic versus stressful, and just cook with no expectations. I promise you will see a side of cooking that will inspire you to make time in your day. I believe in you.
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