Rant – “I can’t cook”

 

Lately, I’ve been reading in the newspaper and on Facebook that cooking skills are on the decline. This is a real shame.

 

I understand we live in an age where everything is high paced and the demand for fast or instant everything is on the rise.

 

I’ve had plenty of clients say they “can’t be bothered cooking for one person” or that they “can’t cook”.

 

The problem with this is that microwave meals or takeaway meals are a poor second to a home-cooked meal. I say this for the following reasons:

 

1. You can’t control the quality or quantity of ingredients in the meal. This is especially important if you’re looking to lose weight. For example, I know when I make an omelette or scrambled eggs at home they’re not nearly as rich, creamy or thick as the cafe version as I add no cream or milk.
2. When you cook dinner you can make enough to have leftovers the following day – saving you time, money and potentially unwanted calories from takeaway lunches.
3. If you have kids they will learn from seeing or helping you cook the family meals. There’s also a higher chance they’ll eat the meal if they’ve helped choose and cook it.

 

I once had a client who’s wife travelled to Melbourne for work occasionally, the problem was he said he “can’t cook”. He fed them takeaway dinners the whole time his wife was away, mostly pizza.

 

I’m not anti-takeaway, I enjoy eating out as much as the next person but it’s usually for a special occasion or a well chosen cafe brunch or restaurant dinner.

 

Four quick and easy ideas to rev up your cooking skills:

 

1. Cooking shows on TV. I learnt to cook the basics from my mum but also really enjoying watching Jamie Oliver’s cooking shows on DVD (that’s showing my age now).
2. Cookbooks or taste.com.au I received a wok and an Asian cookbook from Kate for Christmas when I was in my early 20’s. Taste is a great website too as it provides the steps to cook, nutritional values and the ingredients you need to shop for.
3. Do a cooking class. Take some friends or make some new ones while you learn. The local community colleges have a wide range of cooking classes.
4. Pick up a copy of the Australian Healthy Food Guide when you’re in the newsagent or supermarket next. It’s a great little magazine full of the latest nutritional advice from dieticians. It also contains a range of recipes and 7-day food plans.

 

Cooking should be fun, and with a little know-how, you can experiment and throw things together. Not everyone can pull that off but I find if you can follow a recipe, nine times out of ten you’ll end up with a winning meal.

 

If you’re a “can’t cook” person, back yourself and remember you can do whatever you put your mind to!

 

Adam Grono, May 2018