I work too much and don't make a lot of money. However, I still manage to cook really healthy food near every night without going completely broke. Part of this is because I manage my money, and time appropriately, with purpose and forethought. I find that a lot of people make excuses about why they don't cook (took expensive, they have kids, kids are picky eaters, too tired...), what they don't realize is that not only is it less expensive to cook baked chicken breast with steamed broccoli for five people, but it's also a lot healthier. The reason children are such picky eater is because a) they are children and b) parents give them too many secondary options to the main dinner option.
I stopped making excuses about being tired, I stopped watching the multiple tv shows I would DVR for every night of the week, I stopped eating CRAP. and guess what? I go to bed earlier, I sleep better, I wake up feeling rested, I have more mental clarity and I am happier than I have been in YEARS.
I often stop by the grocery store at the beginning of the week and get ingredients for meals I plan to make that week, paying close attention to planning meals with ingredients that will stay fresh before use for several days (*I FIND THIS PRETTY IMPORTANT*).
I usually leave home for work around 8:30am and arrive home at 8:30pm-- a very long work day indeed. Instead of "relaxing" in front of the tv, I start cooking my meal of the night. Sometimes it takes an hour to cook, which means the process of prep, cook and cleaning often takes about two hours-- and that's not including eating. I also make a point to structure the order of prep and cooking so I can clean up as much as possible before the dish has been plated.
Depending on the meal and my overall plan, I'll portion out the meal into tupperware and let sit, uncovered on the counter to cool before putting in the refrigerator. Lastly, I serve myself and by then there is only one or two pots/pans to clean, which I let soak, or everything is cleaned up. Cleaning up to this extent before I eat has helped me on many levels; I tend not to over-eat, and I appreciate the food more.
By the time I eat it is often close to 10:30/11:00pm, which is close to my bedtime, so I am exhausted, if I don't clean the kitchen before eating it increases the chances that I'll convince myself that I will "do it tomorrow," which isn't productive and doesn't help me tomorrow when I come home from another 12-hr work day. Lastly, if I am going to cook like an adult, I should clean like an adult. I feel proud of the meals I create, I feel that I have achieved something on my own and have a genuine talent that a lot of people do not put the time and energy into.
Maintaining an organized, clean and hygienic kitchen is a major part of being a good cook.
I stopped making excuses about being tired, I stopped watching the multiple tv shows I would DVR for every night of the week, I stopped eating CRAP. and guess what? I go to bed earlier, I sleep better, I wake up feeling rested, I have more mental clarity and I am happier than I have been in YEARS.
I often stop by the grocery store at the beginning of the week and get ingredients for meals I plan to make that week, paying close attention to planning meals with ingredients that will stay fresh before use for several days (*I FIND THIS PRETTY IMPORTANT*).
I usually leave home for work around 8:30am and arrive home at 8:30pm-- a very long work day indeed. Instead of "relaxing" in front of the tv, I start cooking my meal of the night. Sometimes it takes an hour to cook, which means the process of prep, cook and cleaning often takes about two hours-- and that's not including eating. I also make a point to structure the order of prep and cooking so I can clean up as much as possible before the dish has been plated.
Depending on the meal and my overall plan, I'll portion out the meal into tupperware and let sit, uncovered on the counter to cool before putting in the refrigerator. Lastly, I serve myself and by then there is only one or two pots/pans to clean, which I let soak, or everything is cleaned up. Cleaning up to this extent before I eat has helped me on many levels; I tend not to over-eat, and I appreciate the food more.
By the time I eat it is often close to 10:30/11:00pm, which is close to my bedtime, so I am exhausted, if I don't clean the kitchen before eating it increases the chances that I'll convince myself that I will "do it tomorrow," which isn't productive and doesn't help me tomorrow when I come home from another 12-hr work day. Lastly, if I am going to cook like an adult, I should clean like an adult. I feel proud of the meals I create, I feel that I have achieved something on my own and have a genuine talent that a lot of people do not put the time and energy into.
Maintaining an organized, clean and hygienic kitchen is a major part of being a good cook.
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