The home-cooked meal is a dying art. Young people today are eating out more, ordering in, or getting takeout at least once a week. However, this also means they’re spending less time in the kitchen at home. It feels like a double whammy: on one hand, we’re dealing with the pressures of 21st-century life and all its demands—and on the other hand, we have to cope with fewer opportunities to make our food somewhere outside our homes. To top it off, millennials are becoming pickier about what they eat, preferring gourmet meals over fast food. With so many variables working against us in terms of food culture and preparation abilities, it’s hard not to feel a little helpless and defeated as a result.
Home cooking isn’t something that comes easily to everyone; after all, not everyone has learned from their parents how to prepare simple meals or bake desserts from scratch. It requires skill, patience and perseverance – but there are good reasons why home-cooking should be on your bucket list!
1. It’s good for your physical health.
Some of the health benefits of home-cooked meals include a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a lower risk of getting heart disease, and a lower risk of developing certain types of cancer. The main reason for these benefits is the higher intake of fiber found in home-cooked meals. Fiber is an important part of a balanced diet since it helps to lower cholesterol levels, aid digestion and help control appetite. There are also other nutrients found in home-cooked meals that are often missing in ready-to-eat meals, like vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, folate, antioxidants and many minerals.
Home-cooked meals promote a healthier weight, too, thanks to the higher fiber content that is associated with feeling fuller for longer and eating fewer calories. Eating home-cooked meals regularly is linked to a lower risk of obesity. In general, obesity is associated with a higher risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.
2. It’s good for your mental health.
Home-cooked meals are a great way to de-stress because you get to decide what goes into them. This will allow you to make healthier choices than you would if you were eating outside the home, where it’s harder to control what you intake since you don’t know what went into the food. You can also make home-cooked meals a special occasion.
If you have a long-term illness or you have recently suffered a loss, it can be a challenge to make yourself feel better. A home-cooked meal, with all the love that you put into it, is a great way to lift your spirits. You can even make it a tradition with your loved ones to do something special like this each month! When you’re at home, it’s easier to focus on getting better and making yourself happy, which will help your mental health.
3. You’ll Discover What Ruins Your Digestion
When your body is under more stress than usual, it’s natural for it to shut down a few of its non-essential functions. This can include things like your immune system, your ability to heal, and, unfortunately, your digestive system. If you’re stressed out, you may notice you’re having trouble going to the bathroom, which is generally a sign that your body is having digestive issues. So why does stress wreak havoc on your digestion?
Well, there are a few reasons for this. One is that it’s a natural human reaction to shut down unnecessary functions when we’re in a dangerous situation. When you’re under stress, your body thinks you’re in danger, so it stops doing things like digesting food properly to divert those resources to more pressing issues, like your immune system.
The other reason is that the stress hormone, cortisol, blocks the release of digestive enzymes, which is necessary for the digestion process. Eating home-cooked meals will help you avoid this problem since you’re in control of what goes into your meals.
4. Home-Cooked Meals Are A Great Way To Celebrate
There’s a lot of food, traditions, and emotions wrapped up in home-cooked meals. It’s a great way to celebrate any important events in your life, including special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and holidays. You can also use it to mark milestones like getting a new job, moving into a new home, or overcoming a difficult challenge. It’s a nice way to appreciate everything that you’ve accomplished so far in your life and provides a great foundation for the future.
Home-cooked meals are also a great way to celebrate friendship. Friends can be a wonderful part of your life and you might not always know how to show them how much you care. A special meal is a great way to show your appreciation and is something that you can do on any budget or schedule.
5. Home Cooking Can Be A Great Stress Reliever
Stress is a natural part of life, but too much of it can be harmful. It’s been linked to heart disease, immune disorders, and issues like anxiety, insomnia, and high blood pressure. Cooking is a great way to ease stress because it requires your attention and focus, but it’s not an overly complicated process like a lot of other hobbies.
It also gives you a sense of control over your day since you can decide what to make and how much work it will take. It’s a great way to engage with your friends and family, too, since they’re likely to be curious about what you’re doing and are eager to help if you ask!
6. It’s An Incredible Way To Bond With Friends And Family
Home cooking is a great way to build relationships with friends and family. It gives you a common interest and something to talk about, like how you like your steaks cooked or how you like your vegetables prepared. It also gives you a chance to show your loved ones how much you care about them. If you invite them over to help you prepare a meal, it shows them that you appreciate their company and are open to sharing a part of your life with them.
If you’re a parent, home-cooked meals are a great way to bond with your children as well. They can help you prepare the food, which is a fun way for them to learn and make a connection with their food. It’s a good way for them to learn about healthy eating and gain a better sense of what goes into the food they eat.
7. You Can Learn To Cook The Foods You Love
If there’s a specific type of food you’ve been craving but have been unable to eat because of a dietary restriction or allergy, home cooking is a great way to satisfy that craving. This can apply to foods that you’ve eaten before and loved or ones that you’ve never tasted before and are dying to try. You can even use it as an opportunity to try new foods, like exotic ingredients or dishes from different cultures. If you’re interested in baking, home-cooked meals give you plenty of practice time. If you’ve always wanted to learn how to make pastries, cookies, or other baked goods, there are tons of recipes for you to try out.
