Why You Should Cook, Part 1

As you have probably gathered from the title of this website, we believe that you should learn to cook. In this post and the next, our goal is to persuade you about why that is the case. This post will focus on the more “individual” benefits of cooking - namely, that it is good for your body, your mind, and your wallet. The next post will explore the social/relational benefits of cooking.

Cooking is good for your body

There are lots of different ideas floating around about what is and isn’t healthy when it comes to food. Regardless of your particular persuasion, learning to cook gives you the agency to decide what you will and wont eat instead of being limited by what you can buy. In particular, when you cook, you are in charge of the quality and quantity of ingredients used. Deciding on ingredients gives you the power to realize the following goals:

• Reducing processed food intake. It’s no secret that a lot of the food that we can get at fast food restaurants or pre-packaged at grocery stores contain ingredients that no regular person has heard of. Unfortuately, your options for telling your local fast food restaurant to stop using a given preservative are pretty limited. If you want to have high-quality, natural ingredients, you can either pay a premium to get it at a restuarant or you can learn to cook.
• Reaching specific nutrient goals. If you have weight or athletic goals with strict macronutrient requirements, cooking gives you the flexibility to customize your meal as needed to meet those goals. Cooking opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to macro ratios.
• Observing dieatary restrictions. If you have dietary restrictions (either medical or religious), you know how hard it can be to avoid cross contamination with things you aren’t supposed to eat. As the old adage goes, if you want something done right, do it yourself. The easiest way to prevent some forbidden substance from getting into your food is to prepare it yourself!

Cooking is good for your mind

Depending on your personality, cooking may start out as something that is stressful or frustrating. However, as your abilities and confidence grow, you might find that it is an activity that can be both rewarding and relaxing. Once you know the ground rules of coooking, it is like any other creative discipline - you have a lot of flexibility to move around and try new things (side note: if you’re interested in learning the fundamentals, see our upcoming student guide). Or, if routine is more relaxing for you than creative expression, you can come back to your favorite tried and true recipe. After a busy day, taking time to slow down and make a big pot of soup can be a great form of stress relief.

Cooking is good for your wallet

Everyone likes to save money, and in our current economy even fast food is becoming pricey. When you go to a restaurant, you are not just paying for the food. Your money goes to the cost of paying the staff, keeping the lights on, etc. Learning to cook can save you a lot of money if you are willing to put in a little bit of effort for planning. Buying food in bulk, taking advantage of sales, and doing some meal planning to minimze waste are all money-saving techniques you can use to keep your food bill lower. Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.

Conclusion

This post has covered some of the main individual benefits of learning how to cook. By learning to cook you are empowered to reach your dietary objectives. As you gain confidence in the kitchen, you might find cooking to be a fun creative outlet or a relaxing routine. On top of all of that, making your own food can help you save money in the long run. In short, learning to cook can be a step towards a healthier, happier, more prosperous life. In the next blog post, we’ll explore some the social side of cooking.