Growing up, my family always made dinner at home. While most nights I stick to that habit, I know I am not alone in having difficulty finding the motivation and time to make home-cooked meals every night. Ordering take-out, buying a pre-packaged dinner, or going out to eat is often quite tempting. Doing these things on occasion can be fun, delicious, and a good way to mix up your routine, but if you want to know how to start eating healthy, the first step is to make cooking at home a priority.
From 1965 to 1995, the time spent cooking declined almost 40% in the US.[1] The average American spends only about 30 minutes a day on preparing and cleaning up food,[2] and a recent study showed that only half of American households cook dinner at home on a regular basis.[1] With more fast food and pre-packed meals available than ever before, this isn’t surprising. But this change is coming with negative consequences on our health. Pre-made food is often loaded with salt, fats, preservatives, sugar, and artificial ingredients.
Health benefits of cooking at home