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  • ร—
    Home ยป Nutrition Knowledge

    How to Actually Enjoy Cooking

    Published: Sep 16, 2016 ยท Updated: Apr 3, 2018 ยท Post may contain affiliate links

    Cooking doesn't have to be a chore. Here are five favorite tips to actually enjoy cooking

    Pesto Salmon from Living Well Kitchen

    Almost daily, I hear at least one of these comments...

    • "healthy eating is too hard"
    • "I hate cooking"
    • "it's impossible to cook for one"
    • "going to the grocery store pains me"
    • "it's too expensive to cook at home when I usually end up throwing out ingredients before I can even use them"
    • "there's no way I could make and follow a meal plan"

    The list goes on, but you get the picture. People have a lot of objections to cooking for themselves. Grabbing a bite to eat somewhere else seems like a much better idea. Less effort, less time, less stress. Easier.

    But here's a secret: It's not less effort. It's not less time. It's not less stress. And it's not easier if you know what you're doing.

    You can actually enjoy cooking and save time, money & stress!

    [clickToTweet tweet="Learn how to actually enjoy cooking and save time, money + stress! Here are 5 tips to help" quote="Learn how to actually enjoy cooking and save time, money + stress! Here are 5 tips to help"]

    How to Actually Enjoy Cooking from Living Well Kitchen

    To prove this, I created a course on How to Actually Enjoy Cooking ๐Ÿ™‚

    I wanted to help people transform their life in the kitchen and beyond...
    To finally be able to confidently go to the kitchen and cook a nourishing meal...
    To not feel stressed if you are running short on time because you know exactly what to make with the ingredients you have in your kitchen...
    To make a meal plan for the week that is easy to follow...
    To not waste precious time in the grocery store...
    and to no longer feel uneasy in the kitchen or like you're on the wrong planet when you're in the kitchen.

    [clickToTweet tweet="Cooking doesn't have to be a chore! These 5 tips can make it enjoyable" quote="Cooking doesn't have to be a chore! These 5 tips can make it enjoyable"]

    How to Enjoy Cooking from Living Well Kitchen

    All that being said, here are 5 of my favorite tips for Actually Enjoying Cooking:

    1. Set up your kitchen: Have the right tools so your kitchen is set up for success. A good knife, a solid cutting board, and a sturdy skillet or pot are the three basic things you must have. I recently posted about a few favorite kitchen utensils that I love, and pantry staples are great to have! (*sign up here*)
    2. Skip the self-criticism: mistakes in the kitchen are bound to happen. Try to learn something from them.Maybe you tried to bake brownies in a 9-inch pan instead of an 8-inch pan and they were burned overcooked. Or maybe you got a little heavy handed with the salt because you thought you totally didn't need to measure out ยฝ teaspoon... you could guess it right? ๐Ÿ˜‰ Then your food was a wee bit too salty. It happens to everyone! Remember, no need to be a gourmet cook. You're not expected to make elaborate meals a week after you start cooking (or ever).
    3. Know the basics: Knowing a few basic cooking methods will make your life infinitely easier. If you know how to roast a chicken, make the perfect rice, sauté vegetables, and make a vinaigrette then you've got multiple meals you can make already in the bag.
    4. Pick favorites - do you have any favorite meals or recipes? Keep those in the weekly rotation. Don't make them every single week, but having a few stand-by favorites is extremely helpful when it comes to planning your meals.Some of my favorites are broccoli slaw spaghetti, taco soup, lentils with sausage & kale, fried quinoa, and easy peanutty pasta.
    5. Experiment - Try something new! New vegetables or different cooking methods. Vary your cooking methods: steam, sauté, bake, roast, broil, poach, etc. Vary flavorings and sides; try different herbs & spices, look for new vegetables to try. However, be sure to have something familiar on your plate in case you don't love the new food. Do remember to keep an open mind.

    Because I could go on for another hour (and then some) about how to actually enjoy cooking, If you want to learn more, **check out the course here**

    Meme

    What are your favorite tips to enjoy cooking?

    Cooking doesn't have to be a chore. @memeinge has five favorite tips to actually enjoy cooking

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    Comments

    1. Deanna Segrave-Daly says

      September 16, 2016 at 7:14 pm

      Oh this goes right after my own heart - love love this niche you are taking on Meme!

      Reply
      • Meme says

        September 22, 2016 at 6:35 pm

        Ah thank you thank you ๐Ÿ™‚ (Yay for finally figuring out my niche 5 years later haha!)

        Reply
    2. Jessica @ Nutritioulicious says

      September 16, 2016 at 7:16 pm

      I honestly love cooking so I really have a hard time understanding people who don't like it at all. But when I step back I do understand that it's intimidating or feels like a lot of work for some people. These are great tips and it's going to be a great course!

      Reply
      • Meme says

        September 22, 2016 at 6:36 pm

        Ditto!! Thanks, Jessica!

        Reply
    3. Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says

      September 18, 2016 at 7:23 am

      My tips: Shop at a farmers' market or at a grocery store with a really great produce department and get inspired by the ingredients! I also love connecting with the farmers who grow the food I'm cooking. It makes the whole experience fuller.

      Reply
      • Meme says

        September 22, 2016 at 7:40 pm

        I LOVE that, Katie! A great way to enjoy the experience ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    4. Sonali- The Foodie Physician says

      September 18, 2016 at 9:45 am

      Meme, every one of these tips is spot-on! I'm so excited for you and what you're doing! Good luck with the course, it sounds awesome!

      Reply
      • Meme says

        September 22, 2016 at 8:20 pm

        Thank you sooo much!! xo

        Reply
    5. GiGi Eats says

      September 20, 2016 at 10:13 pm

      I enjoy cooking when I know the result is going to be delicious and I feel hungry but not SOOOO hungry that I want to punch a wall! LOL!!!

      Reply
      • Meme says

        September 22, 2016 at 8:21 pm

        Bahaha! YES! Exactly ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply

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    Meme (a brunette female) is holding umbrella and spinning around in front of the Eiffel Tower wearing a denim jacket, skirt, and blue shoesHi, I'm Meme, a thirty-something registered dietitian nutritionist from Alabama living in San Diego. Here to help you enjoy food, feel better in your body at any size, and live free of diets & shame.
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