You Should Cook More. Here’s Why.

You should cook more. Not just because food tastes so good, but because it’s a useful skill and people will love you at potlucks, but because, damn, the guac from the freezer section just doesn’t compare to homemade. You should cook more. Seriously.

Here’s why:

1. The economy of it. Going out to eat regularly or keeping a stash of TV-dinners in the freezer just isn’t going to be as affordable. A head of lettuce and a quarter pound of salmon will run you about eight dollars, something that may cost you twenty in a restaurant.
2. Hot Pockets. Yeah, people eat those. You shouldn’t; they’re gross. Make a calzone instead, since all you’ll need is a little pasta sauce, cheese, and either your own or pre-fab dough.
3. Your inner moral compass. You have one of those, right? That’s why you buy free-range eggs? Hate to break it to you: free-range doesn’t mean your chickens lived a happy life, but I’ll let you do your own research. So satisfy your moral compass, make a home cooked meal instead of picking up a Big Mac at the drive-through on the way home from work. Those cows had worse lives than your free-range chickens.
4. Let’s talk health. A Big Mac with fries and a Coke runs you about 1300 calories. That salmon meal I mentioned? About 350. And the salad isn’t just empty calories, my friend.
5. Guac. I mentioned guac. For some reason it’s become more popular in recent years, but the core principle of guac hasn’t changed: you don’t like making it but you love eating it. Try making it for a change. Not only will people love you for it, but it will be just so much more refreshing that what’s been sitting in a grocer’s freezer for the past week.
6. You’re the life of the potluck. Oh, you don’t go to that many potlucks? Don’t worry; you will eventually. And when you do, don’t be the loser who just brings a bag of Tostitos and thinks it’s all cool. Bring a loaf of freshly baked french bread and a spinach dip. That will satisfy the crowd.
7. A sense of culture. Let’s face it: you probably can’t afford to go all over the world trying different ethnic cuisines, and in all likelihood your town doesn’t have a restaurant featuring food from Nepal (there’s actually one quite nearby for me). Cooking at home affords you the freedom to cook a yak-milk stew or a Sicilian pizza.

There are many more reasons for you to cook more, but seven’s enough for now. I like seven. It’s a good number. Go cook dinner for yourself, your family, or your friends.

(Copyright 2017 Tys Sweeney)