A little background: I grew up overweight and unhealthy, and learning to cook healthy meals for myself is a big part of what ultimately helped me lose 70 pounds. My journey toward lasting better health started about halfway through my sophomore year of college. That year, something shifted. I can't tell you what, exactly; I had exercised and dieted in the past, but it never stuck.
This time, however, I think my subconscious just said Enough is enough. I started exercising and making healthier choices at the dining hall (skip the fries, have a side salad), and when I went home that summer, I focused on cooking my own meals. I'm no master chef, but honestly, simple, healthy cooking isn't rocket science. I grew up watching my mother chop and fry and bake, so I just applied that knowledge and winged it.
That’s not to say it was easy—nine years later and I’m still overcooking my chicken—but it taught me that “I’m just too busy to eat healthy and cook for myself” is not a viable excuse. Over the years, cooking for myself has helped me maintain a healthy weight, but it's also become a form of self-care. I'm not going to lie: Losing 70 pounds (and maintaining that weight loss) is, for me, the biggest accomplishment to come from cooking for myself. That said, it's not the only accomplishment.
People who cook at home often are more likely to have an overall healthier diet than those who don't, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. I reached out to the study's author, Adam Drewnowski, Ph.D., director of the Center for Public Health Nutrition at the University of Washington, to learn why. The answer is actually pretty simple: "Cooking at home is a great way to get more nutrients and fewer empty calories at a low cost, and you have much more control over where the food comes from," Drewnowski told me.
True to form, making my own meals each night gives me a sense of control over my health—like I'm doing all I can to be my healthiest self. But on top of physical health and some ego boosting, cooking these nightly meals is a major form of self-care. When I get home at the end of the day, cooking is how I unwind—smashing garlic cloves is my anger management, and slicing peppers forces me to be mindful.
Cooking for myself each night is my own form of therapy. Here are a few tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years that make having a home-cooked dinner for one doable every night. I always, always, always wash the dishes after dinner. Chronologically speaking, this is the last thing I do. But in terms of importance, washing the dishes right after dinner ranks highest.
Nothing gets me out of the mood for cooking more than seeing a pile of dirty pots and pans as soon as I get home—and then knowing I have to wash them before I can actually start cooking. I meal-prep a little bit on weekends. I don't do a major meal-prep session on Sundays like some people, but I do cook a few things ahead of time on the weekends.
Reheated veggies just don’t do it for me, but a select few things I cook in bulk and use throughout the week, like meats, not-so-quick-cooking grains like brown rice and farro, and even pulses like lentils. It makes weeknight stir-frys (my go-to) so much easier when you can just focus on the veggies and toss in some precooked rice near the end.
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