“I don’t have time”, “It’s too expensive”, “I don’t know how”, “It just isn’t convenient”… these are some of the most common reasons for why people don’t cook their own food.  So they must be true then, right?

Wrong! Read on to see why you should start cooking your own food!

YOU are in control.

First and foremost, when you cook your own food – you are in control! This sounds obvious, but the benefits are unfortunately overlooked far too often. Everyone’s heard about prepackaged and restaurant meals criticized for lacking flavor, being too salty/greasy, or just being too expensive for what you get – which is why you are the perfect candidate for cooking your own food. You control how much salt goes on the plate, you control the amount of fat and grease, and you can keep cost low by shopping smart!

Additionally, if you’re the type of person for likes to track and monitor what you eat – then you certainly know how much easier it is to do it when you’re making your own food. Even if you don’t count calories and macronutrients, it is reassuring to know that you have control of what goes into your food, onto your plate, and ultimately into your body!

NO junk – you know what you’re eating!

Partially hydrogenated oils, titanium dioxide, artificial coloring, monosodium glutamate, artificial sweeteners, sodium nitrate and nitrite, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydrozyttoluene (BHT)… these are just some of the items you’ll find added to foods that you aren’t cooking yourself.

Yes, maybe these items are allowed to be added to the foods you eat, but do you really want to consume them? Chances are you don’t – and if that does happen to be the case, then cooking your own food is a safe way to avoid these additives. When following recipes, you won’t find directions that call for two tablespoons of sodium nitrite, a splash of artificial coloring with a pinch of BHT.

If you want to feel well both mentally and physically, don’t eat excessive junk food.  The saying “you are what you eat” rings true for a reason – it’s fairly simple, eat healthy and feel well! While occasionally eating something with “junk” ingredients won’t be the end of the world – be sure to be mindful, indulge with moderation and consider cooking your own food more frequently.

It can save money… and time.

Cooking your own food can be cheap. Yes, your eyes aren’t deceiving you – cheap! If you plan accordingly, buy seasonally, buy in bulk, shop local, and take advantage of sales you can end up saving a substantial amount of money. There happens to be this widespread misconception that buying your own food is expensive, but in reality – it isn’t.

And even if it was – investing in healthy food, your health, and your well-being will end up saving you significant money in the long run. Not convinced? Try tracking what you spend in a month when you buy your own food compared to eating out and see for yourself.

Additionally, cooking your own food can be quick. Once you get the hang of it, you’d be surprised how fast you can actually put together some gourmet meals.

Okay, perhaps it won’t be as fast as a drive-though, convenient stop, or food truck. But it will be healthier, it will be your own creation, and it’s a lot quicker to sort out than you might think. With time, you will begin to surprise yourself with how time-efficient you can become with cooking. And, if you cook in bulk, you can refrigerate or freeze leftovers so you have healthy, convenient, and ready-to-go meals on hand – ergo, faster than a drive through!

You control your portions!

Are you looking to eat fewer calories? Or perhaps you want to add some muscle and want to eat more?

In both instances, portion size is key! And when you cook your own food, you control the portion sizes – it really is that simple. If you are looking to eat less, try making a bit less food. Then, when you want seconds you’d have to make more food instead of simply getting it – making it less likely for you to overeat this way.

Cooking is (still) a survival skill.

Plain and simple – knowing how to cook is a primal and essential survival skill. Nowadays, we don’t really view cooking our own food as an indispensable survival skill because we have so much food at our fingertips – and it is ready to eat!  However, as much as we’d like to ignore it, there is always the worst-case-scenario chance that could occur that puts you – or your loved ones – in a position where preparing food is necessary. Having the confidence and know how to properly and safely prepare food will be something you certainly won’t regret and others will appreciate.

In conclusion – instead of using time, convenience, money, and confidence as reasons not to cook your own food, make them all the reasons that you should start cooking your own food! It doesn’t take much time to learn, it is extraordinarily handy, and very practical. You’ll be in more control of your diet and health, and you may find yourself feeling better, picking up a new skill, and making new friends.

Besides, what’s the worst that could happen? You could pick up a new skill that’s functional and stays with you for life. Go give cooking your own food a try!

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