Getting Into the Habit of Cooking
Want to get in shape and stay that way? Of course you do. If you’re exercising regularly, congratulations, you’re halfway there because working out is merely 50% (if that) of what’s needed to become and stay in good health.
The other 50%? Eating properly. But of course you knew that, didn’t you? Everyone knows that. So how is it that no one does it? Because it’s hard. Quite hard.
One of the keys to eating properly is making your own meals. I’m not speaking about throwing together the latest high-sodium Hamburger Helper concoction, I’m talking about a proper, honest-to-goodness home-cooked meal.
Making your very own meals can be a hurdle, particularly when so many of us don’t really need to know how to cook in today’s life of prepared, quick, ready-to-eat, frozen Frankenstein foodstuff. The great news is that with a bit of willpower and some effort you can make cooking your own meals a habit, one which will benefit your health – and your appearance – throughout your daily life.
The key to creating a habit is to start small. Instead of assuring yourself that next week you’ll prepare all of your own meals, start by committing to preparing one meal each week for a month.
Why begin small? It’s much easier to commit and follow through on little things, and the minor steady wins you accomplish by following through on the small stuff will give you the confidence to commit to more substantial stuff.
This is how habits are born.
So begin today. Sit down together with your calendar or phone and decide which day next week you’re going to cook one meal. For consistency’s sake keep the same day and meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for the next month. Give yourself a few minutes to decide what you would like to have for that meal, research a recipe, and put together a shopping list.
If needed, schedule 10-15 minutes to research the cooking techniques you’ll need, such as stir-frying, poaching, grilling, etc. Once all of the above is complete you’ll be set up for success and able to make your meal.
Repeat for the next four weeks. Once you’ve successfully prepared your single meal for one month, allow yourself a pat on the back and raise the number of meals to two for an additional four weeks.
From that point, scale up until you’re making all or almost all of your own meals. These little triumphs will give you the momentum you need to establish a healthy habit.
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July 02 2012 01:06 am | Nutrition