It can be daunting when you do not know how, but let us be honest: cooking is awesome. Not only is it more budget-friendly than eating out for every meal, but you maintain more control over your diet so you can ensure you are eating foods that fuel your body, not clog your system. But even cooking at home can have its pitfalls if you are not careful. Check out these less than desirable kitchen habits and see if there are any you can break to up your cooking game!

1.      Following the recipe too closely. It is important to follow the recipe in regards to certain aspects, such as cooking times and proper temperatures (no one wants to get sick from undercooked meat). But sometimes a recipe we love can be modified for healthier alternatives. For example, if a recipe calls for heavy cream, perhaps you can swap that out for half-and-half. Or, if a recipe calls for two tablespoons of oil, maybe you can cut that in half and get away with only using one? And speaking of oil…

2.      Using too much oil. Many recipes call for a thin coating of oil for a pan, but without an exact measurement, consider what that actually means. Do you need enough to fully glaze the pan or just enough to your food will not turn into a blackened mess superglued to the pan? Additionally, rather than eyeballing the oil, use an exact measurement. Start with one tablespoon and if you need more, add accordingly. More than likely, you are using way more than you actually need.

3.      Making too much food. We have all been guilty of this at one time or another and ended up cooking enough food for an army instead of only two. There are tons of great websites and apps that will help you scale down a recipe so you can ensure you are only making the amount of food you need. Add in an extra serving or two if you plan to eat the leftovers the following day, but you generally do not need to make a recipe that serves eight when you’re cooking for one.

4.      Tasting too much. Yes, you often need to taste as you are cooking to ensure you are adding in the correct amount of spices. However, there is always that line between a quick taste and just plain eating as you go before then eating a regular-sized portion on top of that. Be conscious of what you are doing in the kitchen! If you cannot seem to keep yourself from snacking as you go, create a plan for yourself. Maybe you want to eat an apple or a handful of nuts before you start cooking so you are less likely to give into cravings; find what works for you.

5.      Saying, “I can’t cook!”: If you need a reminder, watch Pixar’s Ratatouille and remember “Anyone can cook!” Sure, it is a cartoon, but that does not make the sentiment any less true. Cooking, like most things in life, is a skill you can cultivate. Taking control of your diet in a healthy way can be a form of self care, so why not learn how to cook? You do not need to start with anything overly complicated—remember, you walk before you can run—but learning to cook can be a huge benefit to your overall health. Do not allow yourself to be stuck in a negative mindset and instead, give yourself the opportunity to learn how to cook. Ask a friend or family member for a lesson, attend a local cooking class, watch videos online for easy recipes, or just find a cookbook that features cuisine you love and try it out! 

            Take control of your kitchen and break these bad habits for a chance to improve your health and diet. Did we forget any other bad cooking habits you have dropped? Tag us on social media and show us your cooking adventures (pro tip: try one of the recipes posted on our blog)!