Benefits of Cooking at Home More
A lot of moms have a deep knowing that being able to cook at home more is the best thing to do for themselves and their families, but they aren’t exactly sure how to make it a reality. You are exactly who this blog (and my entire mission) is for!
I’m here to validate that feeling and help you set yourself up for success. We’ll start by identifying the top 5 reasons to cook at home more (and how to make it last when you do it the way I do it).
Let’s pause before we go any further and recognize that it is great that you’re even thinking about this and reading this blog! Now is the perfect time to begin thinking about caring for your family with good meals that are also stress-free for you.
So let’s talk about the top 5 reasons to cook at home more:
Cook at Home More for Better Personal Relationships
Cooking and eating meals at home together with your family can help build better personal relationships. There are many reasons for this according to research, and some of those reasons that I see every day in my community are:
- Kids can be involved in the cooking or setting the table, giving them a sense of responsibility and an important role in the family.
- When you simplify getting meals on the table, you are less stressed at dinner. As a result, everyone else is less stressed and connects better with one another.
- It communicates to every family member that you care about them.
Cook at Home More to Eat More Veggies
The whole family eats more fruits and veggies when you cook at home. This is great news! Did you know that even seeing vegetables on your plate makes your food taste better and makes you feel more like the person who made the meal cares about you?
Makes sense, right? As your family looks back on the homecooked dinners you enjoyed together, they’ll recognize how much love you put into those healthy meals.
This one is definitely true in my house. I eat more veggies at home than when I go out to eat. As a result, my daughter eats more veggies too because I have her try everything. She’s being introduced to more veggies than when we grab take-out or eat out.
Cook at Home More and Eat Fewer Processed Foods
This one is a no-brainer. If you are planning meals, buying the fresh ingredients, and making the meals, you are eating fewer packaged, processed, and take-out foods. You will actually know what’s in your food. You will be feeding your family ingredients you recognize and can pronounce.
Again, this one is lived out in my house. Even if my daughter doesn’t eat everything I make, I have back-up foods I put on her plate. These back-up foods are things I know she likes and that I feel good about her eating. It’s win-win!
Want to check out this back-up list of foods I keep on hand? Check it out here.
Cook at Home More for Better Portion Awareness
When you cook and eat at home, you’re naturally more aware of portion sizes. I’m not here to tell you what portion size is best for you and your family, but I know that you don’t have to accept the oversized plates full of food served at restaurants or the overflowing take-out containers.
You’ll also know what ingredients are in your meal. I promise that whole, clean ingredients can taste good and your family will eat them when you take the best approach!
This is something I help my clients do – make fresh ingredients taste great in a simple way and help their families get on board.
Also, with time together and connection around the table, you and your family may enjoy slower eating which leads to stopping when you are full. The less stressful environment of a family meal will allow you to enjoy yourself and the food, and not to check eating off the list of things to do.
Cook at Home More to Reduce Stress
While going out to eat or picking up take-out seems less stressful than cooking at home, it often isn’t. There’s the stress of deciding where to eat, driving there to eat or pick it up, and feeling annoyed if you don’t have what you want, etc.
It’s also stressful to moms who know they really want their kids (and themselves) to be eating better. Now you may be thinking that cooking at home is stressful. And if you are new to it or haven’t figure out how to stay consistent with it, the thought can definitely bring up some anxiety. But with an intentional approach to meal planning, it doesn’t have to be stressful.
Creating a meal planning system that you can rinse and repeat each week is the way to go! Check out more inside my FB group: Practical Meal Planning Moms
Cook at Home more to Save Money (big time)
Buying fresh ingredients at the store and cooking your meals at home costs less. You’re not paying for all of the extra things that are tacked on to maintain the restaurant, staff, or extra delivery costs if you’re using something like DoorDash.
The list goes on of how cooking at home is less expensive than eating out.
Another trick to make cooking at home even more cost-saving is to plan your meals. With a plan of what you’re going to eat each week, you buy the groceries you need and use what you buy.
All that fresh meat and produce doesn’t go bad in the back of your fridge. This saves money big time. Without a plan, you make impulsive choices like eating out and all that food you bought just sits in the fridge waiting for you.
I bet you’re reading this blog because that little voice inside you is nudging you to cook at home more and enjoy family dinners each week. With these powerful reasons to do just that, you can be sure your efforts to plan meals and simplify dinnertime are worth it!
Let’s recap the top 5 reasons to cook at home more:
- Better Personal Relationships
- Eat More Veggies
- Fewer Processed Foods
- Portion Awareness
- Save Money
So, let me know – Which of these reasons is your favorite? Do you plan to cook at home more this year?
I’d love to hear from you!
Want more like this? Join My Community
If you’re looking for more tips and support on how to make cooking at home a regular part of your life, I invite you to Join my Facebook Group, Practical Meal Planning Moms. It’s a great place to share ideas, get advice, and connect with other moms who are on the same journey.
