Nutrition Pt II: Cooking

The Underrated Life Skill: Cooking

Cooking is a skill—just like writing, working out, or managing money. And like any skill, it improves with practice. Most of us didn’t grow up in homes where cooking was taught, so we start off inefficient, unsure of what tools to use, how to prep ingredients, or how to clean up without making a bigger mess.

But learning to cook is essential—not just for nutrition, but for independence, creativity, and even connection.

Why Cooking Matters

Cooking at home is one of the best ways to show someone you love them. Few things feel more personal than a home-cooked meal. And while it may seem overwhelming at first, it gets easier—and more enjoyable—the more you do it.

During a period of our lives, we only had one burner, a microwave, one pan, and a tiny fridge. Even then, we made it work: grilled meat on weekends, microwaved vegetables during the week, and sausage and eggs every morning. Simplicity teaches creativity.

Tools That Make It Easier

If you're starting out or trying to eat healthier, two tools are game-changers:

• Instapot

• Slow cooker

With either, you can prep a week’s worth of meals in one go. My go-to approach was simple: grab a healthy slow cooker recipe book from a used bookstore, add a broth base (like bone broth), throw in some protein and vegetables, and let it cook. Done. Nutritious meals in bulk with minimal effort.

The Secret Ingredient: Spices

Even simple meals can become gourmet with the right spices. Salt and pepper alone can elevate a dish, but once you get adventurous—garlic powder, smoked paprika, curry blends—flavor becomes your playground. Spices break the monotony and make cooking fun instead of repetitive.

Grilling for Simplicity

If you have access to a grill, use it—especially in the summer. The wide surface lets you cook all your proteins and veggies at once, saving time and cleanup. Master the grill or the kitchen first, then branch out. You don’t need to be a chef to eat well.

Batch Cooking and Smart Strategies

The biggest barrier to better nutrition isn’t knowledge—it’s time. Shopping, prepping, cooking, and cleaning are real obstacles. But batching can make life easier.

Books like Cook Once, Eat All Week by Cassy Joy Garcia offer recipes designed for repurposing ingredients across multiple meals—saving time, reducing waste, and keeping your palate engaged. It’s not just efficient; it introduces a natural rotation to your diet, which is great for gut health too.

Make Cooking Social

If you have a strong community, consider food swaps. Get a few friends to batch cook meals, then trade. It keeps meals diverse and cuts down the daily cooking burden.

In families, share the load. Teaching your kids how to cook—even just 3–5 basic meals—not only helps the household run smoother but sets them up with essential life skills. The earlier they learn to care for themselves, the less pressure it puts on parents to do it all.

Cooking Classes

Some of us did not have people teach us to cook growing up. If you have never done something before it can be intimidating. Cooking classes are available locally. This can be a good date night opportunity and a way to improve your cooking skill set. If you get a cookbook and still feel like you need help, maybe you do. The price point is similar to dining out and if you do one class per month this could pay lifelong dividends.

Final Thought:

People eat every day. That means cooking is a daily opportunity to improve your health, reduce your expenses, build relationships, and express creativity. Like anything else worth doing, it takes effort—but it’s effort that pays dividends for the rest of your life. Cooking takes practice, intention, and time.