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Do you ever cook for yourself? I know it can be a hassle, but in my experience, it's worth it.
There are definitely pros and cons, but I find that the good stuff usually outweighs the bad. This is what I've discovered:
Pros
Fun and creative
Healthier choices
Save a ton of money
Con
Requires more time and energy
1. It's fun and creative
Just think of the limitless possibilities...
There's an abundance of recipe ideas that you can get simply by Googling or searching Youtube.
My favorite healthy go-to recipes are Indian curries on cauliflower rice, low-carb pizza, and Chinese stir-fries.
If you have a few key ingredients in your fridge and want to use them before they go bad, you can use sites such as MyFridgeFood or SuperCook.
Last week I made a chicken curry with only what I had in my fridge: chicken, butter, onions, chicken broth, curry powder, and cream.
2. You can make healthier choices
You're in control of the quality of ingredients.
Many restaurants put unhealthy oil and sugar into food, which adds unwanted calories. There's a good chance they'll use cheap ingredients to save money.
At home, you're in control of what goes into your food and can make better choices, making your food less processed.
Photo by Farhad Ibrahimzade on Unsplash3. It saves a ton of money
Just think about what you could do with the extra cash.
It's a no-brainer that ordering in and eating out is uber expensive. Just yesterday, I ordered Chinese takeout for two people, and it cost me 75$ CDN with the tip.
Imagine doing that every day. It would cost me 525$ in only a week! That's normally my grocery bill for two months.
When I cook for myself at home, I can buy food on special at the grocery store and preparing it myself keeps the costs low.
4. It takes time...but all good things take time, right?
Yes, it will take some planning and more effort than the time it takes to click Uber Eats. You'll also have to clean up afterward, which sucks big time.
However, simple one-pot recipes are quick to prepare; if you make a big batch, it could last several days, and then you don't have to make a big mess cooking every meal.
Check out this video for simple, wholesome, one-pot meals.
Photo by David Trinks on UnsplashQuiz
You can't afford to do take out so you want to prepare a tasty, nutritious meal for yourself. Unfortunately, you don't have much time to cook. What should you do?
Making a large amount of food at once means that you don't have to cook for several days. Using one pot to cook your meals will reduce clean-up, and making simple, easy meals should make the prep time faster.
This Byte has been authored by
Sonia Kernan
Instructional Designer
BA., BEd.
This Byte has been reviewed by
Lana Do
MD, MPH, BCMAS