Revival of the Home Cook

Revival of the Home Cook
In the wake of a viral pandemic, many people are finding both refuge and necessity in retreating to the kitchen. The good news is that cooking at home can add years to your life while reducing the average 4.4 pounds of trash the average American tosses each day. Managing portions and food quality, however, is the key to longevity, according to the University of Michigan study.

The main obstacles that get in the way of cooking - affordability, ingredient accessibility and know how, according to Dr. Brenda Rea. That said, food, even low-budget or staple items, can be made to taste good so you can enjoy every last bite. And with more time to prepare meals, imagine the good health and decrease in illness that could result if more people learned how to cook.

With the growing availability of learning resources like Minimalist Baker on Youtube, Chef Amanda Freitag on Facebook, and one of my favorites, Kevin Curry of Fit Men Cook on IGTV, there is something for every level and every style. Online classes from The Chef and The Dish take you around the world to create classic dishes while The Food Network has their version of on-demand online courses with instruction from chefs like Giada DiLaurentis, Bobby Flay and Anne Burrell, also with a free trial. Little by little we can find the space, even if it is picking up tips in the closet for a few minutes of alone time, to restore the lost art of cooking to put wholesome food back on the table. And it turns out, according to a survey of 2,000 respondents, nearly half (49%) plan on tackling more complex recipes this year and 45% hope to diversify the types of cuisine they cook.

Got kids? if so, then they’re likely at home...all day! They can get in on the fun (don’t forget the years added) and learning from home too with Raddish Kids online cooking club to start healthy habits young. Katie Kimball of Kids Cook Real Food takes your kids on a journey to empower independence from processed foods while learning how to make delicious real food. Why not bring them into the fold by incorporating some kitchen IQ challenges into the daily curriculum? Have them peel carrots for tomorrow’s go-to snacks or tonight’s dinner. They’ll grow with more connection to the process and confidence in their ability to cook. Your future self will thank you.

Given the circumstances, we’ve learned that reducing your body’s viral burden can help support the immune system. Stress, of course, is another factor that influences your immune function. So why not pair together health and comfort with this Carrot Apple Ginger soup. The bioactive compounds of the fresh ginger have respiratory protective properties and inhibitory effects against viral infection. Plus, it is freezer-friendly so you can prepare a larger batch for now AND later. Using whole food ingredients, this recipe harmonizes functional meal prep with functional foods. Full of nutrient-rich ingredients, this warm treat marries beautifully with a hearty garden salad and a sourdough grilled cheese.

We’ve got some great multi-purpose kitchen tools that are perfect for navigating the entire prep process, whether it be taking food out for an afternoon nature hike or freezing your tripled Instapot meal. The straight sides of the vessels work great for scooping up things like chopped onion and garlic on a cutting board, rounded corners for easy pouring of sauces and dressings and easy portioning with the volumes printed out. You can plan your prep a day in advance and store with the silicone lids to assemble and look like the superhero that you already are. If you’ve got a small kitchen or counter space, then you are going to be gaga when you experience how efficiently these sustainable vessels sit, stack and then clean up. Even though most nights, it may be about efficiency to get the meal on the table, when it comes to preparing food, we hope you find joy in the process.

You’ve got the kitchen and there’s no better time to revive the lost art of cooking. Once you’ve acquired the knowledge, it can be applied and passed down for generations to come.

Given the circumstances, we’ve learned that reducing your body’s viral burden can help support the immune system. Stress, of course, is another factor that influences your immune function. So why not pair together health and comfort with this Carrot Apple Ginger soup. The bioactive compounds of the fresh ginger have respiratory protective properties and inhibitory effects against viral infection. Plus, it is freezer-friendly so you can prepare a larger batch for now AND later. Using whole food ingredients, this recipe harmonizes functional meal prep with functional foods. Full of nutrient-rich ingredients, this warm treat marries beautifully with a hearty garden salad and a sourdough grilled cheese.