Why Home Cooking is Good for the Soul
It’s not always easy to slow life down so you can bring back home-cooked meals. With busy schedules and easy access to fast food restaurants, cooking at home is becoming obsolete.
But there are reasons why that should change. Cooking your meals at home has many benefits to you and your family, both physically and mentally.
So here are a few reasons why you should reconsider going to the drive-thru and start whipping something up in the kitchen.
Build Your Healthy Habits
Developing healthy habits in your life can start at the kitchen. Cooking your meal means you dictate what goes into the pot and how much goes on the plate.
Control your portion sizes, put more veggies on the plate and reduce more fattening foods.
But these healthy habits go beyond just what is on the plate. Cooking at home means you’ll have to keep the kitchen clean, during and after you cook.
The more you prepare, the more often you’ll be tidying up the house so that you have room to cook and everything is put away afterwards.
Learn What Goes into Your Stomach
Do you ever wonder what is all in that giant bowl of pasta from your favourite restaurant? Well if you make it at home you won’t have to guess.
At home meals mean you are the one in control of what goes in and what gets left out. When you order out, those items may contain ingredients you didn’t even know existed.
Instead, create your version with ingredients you know and understand.
Knowing what goes into your food will also build your knowledge of specific ingredients. This is especially important if you develop a food sensitivity or allergy.
The more you know how particular ingredients affect your body, the more you can be mindful of what you put in it,
Appreciate What You Eat
There is something about a home-cooked meal be that a ricotta bake or delicious cake that makes you slow down and appreciate it a little bit more. That’s because you, or someone close to you, took the time to gather the ingredients, prepare it and serve the food.
You want to savour the creation, not devour it in one bite.
It can go even further than just your plate. When making a meal, you’ll have to go out and buy everything needed.
You’ll start becoming more aware of where things come from and who is sourcing your ingredients.
Have a Little Fun
Who says cooking can’t be fun? It’s a time to experiment, learn new things and experience new tastes (good or bad).
So if you’re whipping out your inner chef, why not dress the part?
Not only will they help keep you and your clothes clean, give you a little boost of confidence in your cooking skills as you go from go-getter-at-life to chef-extraordinaire.
Enjoy the time in the kitchen. Whether you’re on your own or bonding with family, the benefits of home cooking are endless.
The more you do it, the more you’ll appreciate what you are capable of doing and enjoy those occasional moments when you do go out.
What do you love most about home cooking?
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I love cooking food at home myself because its great to be able to switch off from work and sing along to the radio while i do it! xxx
Haha I love that you sing along how cool!
I’m terrible when it comes to home cooking with it either being that I have no time to do or I’m just not that good of a cook. I really want to focus on cooking this year though, I like the idea of knowing exactly what’s in my food and being able to control the portion size more
It can be hard can’t it – I’m most definitely far from the best cook.
I love cooking hearty food from scratch. I don’t think you can beat it! At the moment I’m making lots of stews, casseroles and hashes in my slow cooker. They’re delicious, even if I do say so myself!!
Louise x
I so wish I was better at it my Mum is amazing and I always love a good home meal from hers.
I openly admit I cannot cook and therefore don’t cook, but I am good at finding recipes I like the look of, usually from Pinterest for Rachel ha ha!
Haha always good when you live with someone who can cook 😉
I like home cooking when I have all the ingredients and a simple recipe to follow but the Husband tends to do the more experimental cooking in our house.
I wish I could just play with bits and do what I want with cooking, it would be amazing, but I have to fall a recipe most of the time I admit.
Home cooking is definitely good for the soul and so much fun! I love experimenting with new ingredients and flavours 🙂
You make some amazing things, I am always in awe of the bits you share on your blog!
I love home cooking – its actually my relaxation (most of the time) to come home on an evening and cook something scrummy for dinner!
C x
I love that it is relaxing for some people, I find baking and pounding very relaxing I have to admit.
I really enjoy cooking which is why I write a food blog. I always encourage my whole family to cook, not only is it healthy but it ensures you are cooling fresh. Of course having lots of aprons are a must.
There is something much nicer about a home cooked meal than any other I have to admit.
Cooking at home is always so time consuming for us, especially as we’re not the best in the kitchen, but we can totally see the benefits. I think my mummy would love to whip something up in the kitchen. Practice makes perfect so we’re going to try to do more of it in 2018 x
It can be quite time consuming can’t it – I think you have to find the right things for you in the long run. x
95% of the food that my family eats is home cooked. It’s great not only for the health but also for family bonding.
Most definitely I have many fond memories of family meals from my childhood.
I couldn’t agree with this more. Even though I love going out to dinner and having take out once in a while, cooking is pure medicine for my tried soul.
It is definitely nice to have some time off and of course everyone deserves it as well.
Starting to cook everything from scratch was the best thing I ever did for my health. At least you know everything that goes in to it then.
Most definitely it puts you in full control doesn’t it.
That’s how I was raised! no rice a roni for us or blue box mac and cheese. Oh no. We made it from scratch. Even Chinese food! Yes. I’ve hand rolled eggrolls and made steamed dumplings at home. It taste better and is better for you. Every time I go out, I feel like my tongue has been on a salt lick. Not pleasant.
Oh wow that is amazing, I bet it was amazing learning all those techniques as well.
Me and my boyfriend do quite a lot of home cooking because for me I like knowing that I can control what’s going into my food and can hold back on the bad things like oil and butter x
I think that’s the thing for a lot of people you know exactly what is going into you then.
I LOVE to cook! Even though I’m a single lady I still love to make amazing food and work in my kitchen!
There’s nothing wrong with loving to cook for yourself that is an amazing thing to do.
Cooking itself is therapeutic and a great stress buster. Home cooking is really great for the soul. Home cooked food has an ingredient that outside food can never have and that is the love of a near and dear one.
It is amazing how it can calm you down. I have to admit I find it more from baking than cooking myself.
I love experimental cooking and trying new recipes out. I don’t really enjoy cooking that much so doing different things makes it more fun. I usually don’t want to eat what I’ve just cooked though if it’s not a quick recipe as I’ve spent all that time smelling and tasting it 🙁
I think as long as you find what works best for you then that’s all that matter for you.
I love cooking and lucky my family likes most everything I cook. I experiment with different flavors of oils and spices a lot.
It must be lovely having all your work really appreciated by those you love.
A home cooked meal definitely fills you up in a way that a restaurant meal doesn’t. It’s always so comforting to eat homemade food.
It definitely keeps you feeling full for longer as well I always think.
I love cooking for my family. On New Year’s Day I made a delicious black-eyed pea soup with cornbread. My family gave it a 10! I also love hearing the feedback from my family when I make something they really love!
Oh wow what a meal that sounds like and what a lovely way to have you all together for Christmas.
It is so true that home cooking is good for the soul, especially as you know what is going into your stomach. It is fun to play with new recipes as well x
Most definitely and you can feel good about feeling full as you know what’s gone in!
We love cooking at home – it is so much nicer than eating out or takeaways and you know everything that has gone into it.
And you seem to get to have some delicious meals!
I couldn’t agree more to your summation the last week I have been cooking all my meals and knowing my is going into my food is important
Home cooking is the best , one way to be healthy is preparing for your own meal. It also helps a lot on your weekly food budget. Plus you know its always fresh .
It is amazing how much you save if you home cook rather than eat out. I don’t think people realise.
With the new year, one of my goals is to make more home cooked meals! I am excited about making the time to plan some meals and get them started!
Good luck with your new resolution I should really be doing much the same myself.
My family watches a few cooking shows together. My kids love to help in the kitchen as we create a new dish! Last night we created a dish of kale gnocchi with tomato, green onion and mushroom! It was killer
There are some really good shows out there aren’t there to help give you tips and ideas.
I could definitely use an apron, I am far too messy when I cook. Off to check out Chef Works now.
Haha I am totally with you that.
I follow Slimming World and the emphasis on home cooking there is what attracted me to it. My top tip is to follow the recipe exactly the first time then to add in adaptations etc and annotate the recipe to see what worked and what didn’t.
Slimming World seem to really be able making sure you eat good food and look after yourself.
For over 25 years now we have been planting, growing, hunting, raising, harvesting, canning, dehydrating and preserving our own food. Our health and lifestyle is so much better.
Oh wow that is amazing I love that you do it all yourself.
I am not exactly the best at cooking.. I always seem to be short on time and I am not a fan of the cleanup! But I do love the concept, of learning techniques and having skills in life to cook, healthy eating, and all the other great things that go into creating meals.
I am the same I try my best and do what I can to be honest.
I don’t enjoying cooking however my husband does and loves experimenting. I definitely enjoy home cooked meals more as I know of the time and effort of went into it.
Hey if you have someone in the house who loves doing it – then leave them to it I think 😉 x
I love spending time with my family. I have so many memories of being in the kitchen with my mom, grandmother and my great grandma and with my children. Our kitchen truly is the heart of our home.
Aww that is such a lovely thing to have as a memory – it sounds like you are passing on beautiful memories for your children as well.
I have always wished I like to cook. It always taste good but I never had the patience to do it. My friend loves to cook so much that is how she de-stresses.
It is amazing how we all find cooking so different. But I guess id we were all the same it would be boring.
While I do like to eat out occasionally, I had rather cook at home. I love to cook and if I eat out too often I start craving home-cooked meals.
I think it is nice that a lot of people do love to home cook more.
I don’t mind having some prepared foods on hand at all, I try to. But I do prefer home cooking simply because it’s fun.
I would never manage to home cook all the time I am in awe of those who can.
We rarely eat out unless it is an occasion. But, cooking as a family, getting everyone involved has to be a winner here. Rather than one person in the kitchen doing everything, share the experience and everyone learns and as they say, ‘We are what we eat’.
Happy new year 🙂
Aww I love the fact you get everyone involved that is amazing!
I love to cook, but I live with picky eaters so I don’t cook as much of a variety as I would like. Home cooked is definitely best!
Ash can be quite picky we tend to eat different things which doesn’t help.
Experimenting with spices and those finishing touches plus adding in more of what you like
I am in awe of people who can just pop different spices and ingredients in and come out with something amazing.