Pick a reason, any reason. Use it as motivation to start making one new thing from scratch. Remember that you don’t need to change everything at once; just changing one thing at a time will shift everything.
Why should I cook my food from scratch?
1. It tastes better
I dare you to taste these homemade oreos and tell me you like them better when they come in a crinkly package. And homemade ranch? Stop it.
2. It’s better for you
Since you’re calling the shots in the kitchen, your food is very likely to contain less salt, trans fat and high fructose corn syrup than the store-bought equivalent, among other unhealthy non-necessities.
3. It’s often less expensive
Want an example? Pretty much everything in my ebook.
4. You can make it just how you like it
Like it spicy? Make it so. (Same goes for sweet, savory, sour, extra crispy, or al dente.)
5. It’s a great excuse to spend time with people you love
Case in point: canning ketchup with my cousin Molly. Baking Christmas cookies with my mom. Making dinner with my honey.
6. You can pick and choose higher quality ingredients
Real cheddar will always taste better than the powdered pseudo-cheese that comes in a box of macaroni and cheese. And that’s just the beginning.
7. It’s not as hard as you think
Homemade strawberry jam requires strawberries and sugar, boiled on the stove for half an hour. Just because somebody sells it in a sealed jar at the grocery store, doesn’t mean it’s difficult to make.
8. Cut down on packaging waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill
I throw away a whole lot less now that I cook mostly from scratch: bags, boxes, shrink-wrap, foil and the like. You’re welcome, planet. I love you.
9. It doesn’t have to be time consuming
Cooking from scratch can be time-consuming, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. If you have 20 minutes and a crock pot, you’re in business. Need another method to cut down on prep time? Sign up for my FREE online work this Thursday, February 6: Learn to Cook Without Measuring. (Think you can’t do it? You can. I will prove it to you.)
