Americans eat fewer than 70 percent of their meals at home, and less than a third of American families eat meals together more than twice a week, according to Emory University. This fact, together with the obesity epidemic, points toward a need for fundamental change in American food culture. Society’s shift back to the home-cooked meal may offer significant health and advantages over current eating trends.
It’s a fact: All human beings need to eat well in order to keep both their minds and their bodies healthy. Cooking nutritious, balanced meals feeds your body, mind, and soul. But there are four additional benefits to cooking for yourself.
By preparing meals yourself, you control the types of food and nutrients you put into your body. In addition, sitting down to a home-cooked meal allows you to connect with your friends and family.
By taking control of the food you put in your body, you can guarantee food safety. Food-borne illnesses caused by bacteria-laden or under-cooked meats and vegetables regularly make headlines and occasionally claim lives. According to University of Kansas food safety expert Dr. Douglas Powell, up to 25 percent of the population succumbs to a food-borne illness each year to a total cost of $1.4 trillion. While food you buy at the grocery store might be similarly contaminated, attention to proper food handling and cooking techniques may keep you safer.
Finally, cooking healthy meals yourself allows you to save the money you might otherwise spend in restaurants or on processed, prepackaged foods.
Believe it or not, making simple and satisfying meals from scratch doesn’t have to be hard. Here are some of my favorite easy, healthy recipes. You’ll find that eating well can also be delicious!
