“But I hate to cook.” I hear it all the time. Whether it’s too time-consuming, too messy, or the end result is less than appetizing, one’s disdain for sautéing, simmering and stirring seems to be the number one reason for falling off the weight loss bandwagon.
Let me tell you something: You need to just get over it. We cannot keep depending on prepackaged, overly-processed food to nourish our bodies for life. Not only is it making us fatter than ever, it’s killing us.
I am a firm believer that if you want something done right then do it yourself. And if you want to take control of your health, it all starts in the kitchen.
Cooking doesn’t have to be the thing you dread most every day. Like many of our responsibilities and obligations, the hardest part is getting started. Once you stop procrastinating and just get in there and get going already, cooking can actually be quite enjoyable. Trust me on this. I cook almost every night and actually love it. So pour yourself a glass of wine, tune Pandora radio to your favorite station, and remember these tips to make cooking dinner as painless as possible.
Set the stage
First and foremost, start the night before by cleaning the kitchen every night. Make it a habit and do it religiously. Pack up any leftovers, load the dishwasher and turn it on, spray down the counter tops and wipe down the stove. First thing next morning put the clean dishes up so that the dishwasher is empty and ready to be filled again that night.
There’s nothing worse than having to clean the kitchen before you can even get started cooking. Now when you get home from work, the gym, or wherever in the evenings, your kitchen will be ready to go. But whatever you do, do not sit down.
It is next to impossible to propel yourself off of the couch into the kitchen once you’ve started to kick back and relax. So just don’t do it. Change into something comfy, tie on a cute apron and get started. If you’re just learning your way around the kitchen, start simple. Recipes don’t have to be complicated to be delicious. If you don’t already have Pinterest, you should. Even though I can’t follow a recipe to save my life (I have to put my own twist on everything), I’m always inspired by the online pin board’s mouthwatering foodie photos.
To me the best part about cooking is the creative process, so most nights I fly by the seat of my pants and just let my instincts guide me. Think of yourself as an artist and your kitchen as your studio and let the creative juices flow. Never prepare the same thing the same way twice; even if it’s one of your go-to recipes, do it a little different every time.
Treat yourself
Honor your creative culinary masterpiece by setting the table with pretty placemats and linen napkins, light a few candles and arrange your meal on your plate like the pros would at a fancy restaurant.
Garnish your plate with a lemon twist, a sprinkle of fresh herbs, or a drizzle of aioli. A meal that is pleasing to the eye as well as the palate goes a long way in satisfying your appetite. Pour yourself a sparkling water (or another glass of wine if you’re so inclined) and enjoy the nourishment you’ve lovingly prepared for you and your family.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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