How to Begin Cooking at Home
I think most people are aware that home cooked meals are generally best for your health; however, I also want to acknowledge that actually cooking every meal from scratch is just not realistic for most people. There are so many barriers in modern life that can make cooking a challenge. For one, many people did not grow up learning how to cook, either from family at home or at school. Sometimes, especially in metropolitan apartments, kitchens are downright tiny and just not enjoyable to cook in. For others, juggling work, daycare, school, or extracurricular activities may leave very little time to spend in the kitchen making perfectly planned out, scratch made meals. It is a privilege to have the knowledge, space, and time to cook for yourself. If you see yourself in any of these situations, I want to help make home cooking more accessible for you.
Make Grocery Shopping Easier
First, I think one of the major obstacles to cooking for yourself can be your kitchen itself and the difficulties of actually getting to the grocery store and back. As a resident of New York City for several years, I have seen my fair share of tiny and downright dysfunctional kitchens. Many New Yorkers choose to forgo cooking altogether and instead opt for one of the countless other options the city has to offer, like delivery or ready made meals. And that is completely understandable! Busy lifestyles and minimal space don’t exactly leave time for spending hours in the kitchen every day.
Personally, (especially since I now have a toddler!) I used to dread the commute to and from the grocery store, carrying heavy bags home on the bus with a baby. One thing that I started taking advantage of in postpartum was grocery delivery, which is a huge game changer! Depending on the area that you live in and the grocery stores that are nearby, you may have access to grocery delivery from smaller stores or larger chains like Whole Foods.
One of my favorite time and energy savers that I have invested in is a service called Farm to People. This is a sustainable grocery service available to New Yorkers that focuses on seasonal, local produce, as well as baked goods, meats, and other prepared foods. Every week, I get a box called a “Cook’s Box”, which includes seasonal produce items, meat, dairy, and grains, at a discounted price. I love this because it’s like taking a trip to the farmers market to get exceptional local goods, but with the convenience of a delivery service!
If you live in New York City area and would like to try this, use the code MICHAELAB62 for $25 off of your first box!
Enjoy Your Space
As I mentioned earlier, sometimes the size and layout of a kitchen can just make it not very enjoyable to be, let alone cook, in. One apartment kitchen I has was essentially a corner with a stove on one side and the sink on the other, with the small bit of counter space in the corner between them. I did not like cooking in that kitchen at all and really struggled to make it work. However, I found ways to make cooking in that kitchen easier and more enjoyable.
One thing that helps in situations like that is to remove anything that doesn’t either make you happy to look at or helps you in any way. If you have a little money to spare, investing in some organizational tools can help declutter a space and make it feel more inviting and enjoyable to cook in. If there is an area of your kitchen that becomes a “catch all” for random items and constantly feels cluttered, focus on finding an organizational solution to make that space tidy. Nobody wants to cook in a messy kitchen, so taking a little time to really make your space, whatever size, personalized and nice to be in can really help inspire you to spend a bit more time cooking.
Learn to Cook, and Make it Fun!
I was very lucky to grow up learning how to cook from my mother and grandmothers, but not everyone has that experience. If you never got the chance to learn how to cook, it’s okay! It’s never too late to learn a new skill, especially one that can save you money, benefit your health, and even become a hobby and something that makes you happy. I learned so much in culinary school, but you absolutely do not need any formal training to begin cooking for yourself. I love learning new skills on Youtube, which is free! Find a creator that you like and start with the basics, like how to use a knife and basic cooking techniques like sauteeing, baking, boiling, braising.
Once you have the hang of some basic cooking techniques, a fun task to give yourself is to think of one of your favorite restaurant meals and learn how to recreate it at home. Whether it’s lasagna, stir fry, or just a really great burger, learning to make a favorite meal like this can really give you the confidence to continue learning and cooking for yourself and your family.
I would also recommend going to your local bookstore or library and finding a cookbook that interests you. Whether it’s a style of cuisine you love or you want to try something you’ve never had before, trying out some new recipes is a fun way to continue your kitchen exploration. I didn’t know until recently that my local library carried so many cookbooks, which is a great way to try out some new recipes without having to buy a brand new cookbook. (I will admit that I have made a bit of a hobby of collecting cookbooks. There are so many beautifully written books out there and I find them so hard to resist!)
Invest in a Good Set of Knives
If you are just starting out on your cooking journey, this may not be your first step. But it is one that I would highly recommend. A good set of knives does not have to break the bank, but is also worth shopping around for and researching the knives that will last you for years and years.
Korin in New York City is a fantastic store to visit if you are looking for some amazing knives. They also have other items like tableware and kitchen supplies, as well as offering knife sharpening services.
Again, you don't have to drop $$$$ on a set of knives for home (unless you really want to!), but using a set of knives that you actually like will make cooking so much more enjoyable. I would also recommend learning to sharpen your knives at home (again, look around on Youtube for some really helpful videos), as this is something that just takes a little practice and can save you so much money.
Plan for Leftovers
One of the hardest things about cooking at home is just making time to cook every day. But if you cook larger portions and plan to have leftovers, you can cook only once but eat for multiple meals! This is one of my favorite methods to have healthy food on hand. If you find yourself hungry around lunchtime and already have a delicious meal in the refrigerator, all you have to do is heat it up to enjoy a nourishing, homemade meal.
Some of my favorite things to prep in advance would be things like soups, roasted veggies, cooked grain like farro or rice, or a large chopped salad. For soup or broth, I personally love individual portion freezer molds, but you can also portion things out to freeze in ziploc bags to freeze flat, or any other freezer-safe container.
Another tip for setting yourself up in advance is something that I read in Sally Fallon’s book, Nourishing Traditions and really love to practice. In the cookbook, she says that every time you are cooking a meal, think about one thing you can do to make things easier on yourself for the next meal. Think of things like soaking some beans at breakfast to cook for dinner, chopping up veggies during lunch to use in a soup or pasta later, or even just measuring out some ingredients so they are ready to go later on. This breaks up the tasks you have to do and makes it easier to get going when you do start to cook the next meal.
Final Thoughts
I know that there can be so many obstacles when it comes to cooking at home. From time restrictions, grocery stresses, or just general cooking knowledge, a simple thing like cooking for yourself can actually become quite daunting. I want to make it accessible and enjoyable to make delicious, nourishing meals at home for you and your family. If you got any value or inspiration from any of these tips, please let me know. I would love to hear from you.
Also, if you are ready to begin cooking and would like to start with a meal plan or tailored recipe collection, head over to my store to browse the PDF downloads I have made to get started right away! I wish you all the best on your cooking journey, and I’m always here when you need me.
