Why Make Time To Cook?

Your brain loves challenges. It loves unusual, different, novel things. Somehow, cooking doesn’t seem to fit that category, but in fact, it does.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, in March of 2015, Americans spent more money eating out than eating in. That is to say, they went to a nice restaurant, the corner deli, or a fast-food place, not the grocery store. No individual food preparation involved. Even though it sounds incredible, think about how often it is easier for you to eat out, or eat already prepared foods. It’s more than you think.

The U.S. Healthful Foods Council reports that Americans are eating out 5.8 times per week. Which means…we are not cooking, and we are forgetting and negating the skill involved in cooking.

I get it; cooking three times a day gets to be a drag. The usual person eats, basically, the same 10 things all the time. We seldom vary our repertoire of meals. That’s a shame. Cooking should be a lesson in creativity, nor a receptive chore like brushing your teeth. How much can you vary that?

Cooking can be an adventure. It involves following a recipe, or in my case, not. It involves dexterity, timing, smooth transitions, a sense of smell and taste, and hopefully, not burning anything. It’s brain training, sensory input and motor skill output, acquiring a new skill, slowing the onset of Alzheimer’s, and if you are lucky, herds of helpers: your kids, spouse, date, neighbors, brother, cousins, aunts, and/or strangers at the picnic grounds in the park. It’s healthy, fosters a sense of community and communication, and can be a fun, shared experience. It’s hard to complain about your in-laws when they’re chopping cilantro.

I used to invite company over, and try new recipes. Fearless, I know. When the recipes didn’t quite turn out to be even remotely editable, I called the local pizza joint, and had something delivered. A lessor person might be embarrassed; not me. It’s just food, and an experiment. Everyone was happy, eventually.

By lowering your food costs, you can eat better quality food, which impacts your health. That’s a deal for which you and some pals and relatives might find time.

It’s Aging Intelligently.