To Cook Or Not To Cook?

I am a chef and find it hard to cook at home but I do cook extra when doing meals and freeze them so that when i dont feel like cooking the kids still have something healthy. Sometimes it just involves cooking rice or pasta to go with it but saves a lot of time.

This is a growing dilemma in our society. I think with the way our lives are going with all the work and the career, we have to somehow find time for ourselves. Somehow. Just that experience of cooking a meal for dinner every night and the habit of sitting together as a family, whether it be just man and wife, is something that we should try to cherish and do what we can to achieve it. Cooking doesnt have to be a long and arduous task. There are simple ways of cooking rice and a simple side dish to go with the rice like a stir-fry or anything. Potatoes, or soup and fish can be variants for other days of the week. I find that it's more exciting to allocate certain days to certain types of foods. In my household, we like to do pasta on thursdays and fish on fridays. The other days are currently open for selection, but we are looking to allocate more specific types of foods for those days as time goes along. It's fun because you look forward to that special meal on a thursday and it's something which brightens up your day.

What about using a crockpot? Put the food in before you go to work and by the time you come home, it is ready to eat.

I try to cook whenever I get a little time. I'll make a big pot of stew that can be eaten for a few dinners. I also try to make things like veggie burgers or a casserole, on the weekend, that can be frozen and eaten later in the week. It's not always easy but definitely worth it for us because we have cut out almost all processed foods and are in better health now.

Seriously...a crock pot is a working couples best friend. They are pretty affordable, and if you buy Reynolds crock pot liners (these special plastic liners you put in your crock pot) cleaning is super easy! You just remove the line and wipe out the crock pot with a damp sponge. There are tons of crock pot recipes online (So you won't even have to buy a book), and you should have leftovers that you can use for lunches or dinner the next night. As much as I don't like Rachael Ray, the idea of 30 minute meals is very attractive. Maybe see what she suggests and incorporate some of her shortcut metods. I think in the long run you will find cooking for yourself is a great way to save money, and feel more healthy (you will have a better idea of what you are putting into your body). Plus it's kinda fun and something you are your partner can do together.

I have not worked outside the home for many years now for various reasons, but I have help run a business in our home, taken care of my family and elderly parent as the primary care giver. I know that the more a person has to do, the more they want to take short cuts and I do too sometimes. However, most of the time I try to cook healthy. When I first got married I used to cook like my mother did, but over the years I have developed my own style of cooking that is more conducive to my busy lifestyle and tastes. I think the best thing to do is mix it up. Fix a fast meal one night, then the next night make a dish in the slow cooker, that way all you have to do is add a couple of side dishes like apple sauce and a vegetable. Then on special occasions make something that might take a little longer, but is worth the extra work. I save frozen meals or fast food for days when I need a break or I'm sick. Most of my meals take about 20-30 minutes to cook and I usually always serve them on real plates, not paper. My whole family knows how to cook something. Sometimes we cook together for fun. They also help out when I need a break. I think it is very important for every kid to learn to cook because it is a life skill and it is better for your health and your budget. I think it is ok if you feel like you need to order take out or pop something in the microwave. Life goes in cycles and sometimes we are busier than others. If I were you I would try to keep fruit on hand for a healthy snack, add something like a fresh salad to your take out. That is a very healthy quick fix side you might enjoy. Also there are a lot of really good recipes that only take 20 min. to cook that might help you make a quick homemade meal as well.

you've got to cook. eating the way you do, pretty soon you won't remember what "taste" is like. you can cook on the weekends, for example, make a lasagna on sunday afternoon but don't cook it until monday or tuesday night. you need to prep things so you can throw them together, plus you need to have some plan for the weeks meals. for me, cooking is fairly relaxing though, plus the end result has always far exceeded anything out of the microwave.

Another thing to consider is how much more money you are spending by not cooking. While it's great to save yourself time, cooking your own food is better for you and often a lot less expensive. If you don't mind eating the same thing for a few nights in a row, I would suggest cooking something on Sunday that you can use as leftovers throughout the week. For instance, sometimes I cook a pork tenderloin on Sunday. Then on Monday night, I grab some crusty bread and some cole slaw to make fancy sandwiches the next night. Prep is really fast and you are changing the leftovers enough so that you don't get tired of it. Other than the great idea of cooking extra to store in your freezer (someone above me posted that idea), you should also think about getting a crock pot. The great thing about a crock pot is that you can pour a bunch of things into it in the morning and it will be cooked and ready for you when you come home. Seriously, it's amazing. My sister bought a pork butt, threw it in with some bbq sauce, and when she got home she just shredded it up and we had really good pulled pork bbq sandwiches. It might have taken about 10 mins in all once we got home. Best of all, there was enough to freeze as leftovers.