The Major Health Benefits of Home Cooking

Better Ingredients for Brighter Skin

In general, most commercially prepared foods are packed with salt, sugar, fat, and other preservatives. When you cook from scratch, you can control exactly what and how much of each ingredient you’re putting into the pot. Plus, fresh fruits and vegetables contain natural antioxidants that are proven to give your skin a more healthy glow than the sun. What better way to welcome spring than with a fresh face, right?

Feel More Energized 24/7

Nothing beats the satisfaction of creating something from scratch and sharing a meal with your loved ones. Experts say that the simple process of cooking at home is proven to improve your mood, spark a bit of creativity, and even reduce stress in the long term. 

Limiting Sodium Is Way Easier

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends that the average adult cuts back on sodium to less than 2,300 milligrams a day. If you want to eat healthier but aren’t sure where to start, cooking from scratch lets you control the amount of sodium in your meals (and learn something new along the way).

Pro tip: when cooking, try to avoid premade sauces or pre-seasoned meat and vegetables. If you’d still like to add some extra flavor after a final taste test, trade your usual salt for other herbs and spices.



You’ll Probably Have an Overall Healthier Diet

Researchers from a recent University of Washington Study assert that people who cook at home on a regular or semi-regular basis are more likely to eat an overall healthier diet. Plus, by tossing together a meal in the kitchen rather than eating out, you get a healthier meal without a significant cost increase. Great food for you (and your budget) is always a win in my book.

Not sure where to start? Try this.

As we’re all cozying up at home, soups are one of my seasonal staples. Making soup at home allows you to control the ingredients without sacrificing flavor. Below is one of my favorite recipes!

VEGAN ROASTED BELL PEPPER AND TOMATO SOUP

Serves 4, preparation time approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes

Ingredients

●     1 large organic orange bell pepper

●     1 large organic red bell pepper

●     4 organic vine tomatoes

●     1 medium organic white onion

●     1 can organic sugar-free can of full-fat coconut milk

●     4 cups organic vegetable or mushroom broth

●     1 bulb organic garlic, peeled

●     ¼ cup organic fresh parsley

●     2 tablespoons organic avocado oil

●     ½ teaspoon organic red chili flakes

●     ½ teaspoon organic dried basil

●     1 teaspoon organic turmeric powder

●     1 teaspoon organic sea salt

●     1 teaspoon organic black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Cut orange bell pepper, tomatoes, and onion into quarters.

3. In a medium-sized bowl, toss the orange bell pepper, tomatoes, and onion with avocado oil, sea salt, and black pepper. Place the mixture on a baking sheet.

4. Chop off the top of your garlic bulb. Leave it in the shell so that it doesn’t get too dry. Drizzle olive oil on top of the bulb and add it to your baking sheet with veggies. Remove and peel the garlic after 20 minutes. Bake the veggies for 1 hour.

5. Warm your veggie broth in a pot on the stove while the veggies cool down. Once you see steam, remove it from heat.

6. Add vegetables, peeled garlic, chili flakes, turmeric, remaining black pepper, remaining salt, broth, and ½ cup of coconut milk to a high-speed blender. Blend on high until creamy and smooth.

7. Pour soup into bowls and garnish with fresh basil and black pepper. Serve immediately.

What are you waiting for? Turn up some music, toss up a few ingredients, and tackle home cooking like a pro.