THE AMAZING POWER OF COOKING & EATING AT HOME

Cooking at home is one of the most powerful tools we have to improve our health.

Twenty percent of American meals are eaten in cars, usually fast food that’s ultra-processed, packed with artificial ingredients, devoid of nutrients, and engineered to have a balance of salt, sugar, and fat that makes us crave more. Meanwhile, heart disease affects almost half of the adult population. And diet has a powerful impact on our health. Food is medicine, and the strongest healing effects come from a varied diet full of vegetables and healthy fats. What’s the best way to consume more real food? Cooking at home.

Beyond the nutrient benefits of cooking and eating at home, it’s good for your mental and emotional health as well. We know intuitively, and studies confirm, that eating with friends and family makes us happier and reduces stress. Making the time to come together with loved ones and cook real food may require adjusting schedules and priorities—but you’ll discover the change pays off.

Anyone can learn to cook!

But what if you live alone, or you’ve never cooked before, or you simply don’t like to cook? Start small. Find simple meals—salads or soups are a good place to start—or ask a friend who loves to cook for help in brushing up on your skills. With practice, cooking can transform from daunting to a pleasurable activity, with the added benefit of knowing you’re doing something good for your long term health.

Eating at home can also save time and money. We don’t mean that you should skimp on quality ingredients—buy free range, grassfed, and organic when available. But there’s no real bargain in hitting the drive through or buying processed snack foods. In the long run, you’ll lower your risk of developing heart disease or other conditions when you cook at home. The experience of eating is important, too. Do you enjoy eating on the go, in your car? Would the minutes it takes waiting in the drive-through be happier if spent around the table with family and friends?

Don’t let marketing tell you that cooking is a burden. The key to cooking and eating at home sustainably is to share the tasks—and the meals—with others when you can, and to hone your skills the way you would on the job or with any hobby. After all, isn’t taking charge of our health the greatest achievement?