9 Reasons Why You Should Learn How To Cook

There are many things that people have in common. One of those is the need for food.

We all need to nourish our bodies, and having a good diet is the best way to do it. Who doesn’t enjoy a delicious dinner, especially after a long day at work?

When I first moved to America, I saw all these endless dishes I could buy but NOT MAKE. I mean, my mom really spoiled me, and she was a great cook. Nonetheless, she wasn’t here anymore. I wasn’t the best cook, yet I wanted good food. That’s why I decided to learn how to cook.

Let’s face it; eating is one of the best pleasures in life.

I don’t know about you, but there’s no such thing more enjoyable than eating your favorite food when you’re hungry.

An idiom in Latin America says, “Barriga llena corazón contento” This literally means Full belly, happy heart! When we eat and are satisfied, we feel happy and joyful.

However, is what you are eating satisfying you? Is it draining your pocket?

Or, more important, is it really nourishing you?

Although we all like and need to eat, not everyone is willing to cook.

Have you found yourself saying things such as, I don’t like cooking, my food isn’t good, I just want to eat out? If you have, let me tell you are in the right place. I have been there before, and I want to show nine reasons you should learn how to cook.

9 Reasons Why You Should Learn How To Cook

1) It has the power to connect you with those you love!

This is my favorite and foremost reason why you should learn how to cook!

Think of a time you had fun with someone you love or care for. Was there any food involved? Most likely, that’s the case.

Food has an extraordinary power to connect people. And there’s just nothing better than being cooked something unique. Remember the last time someone cooks something delicious for you. Did you feel special?

By learning how to cook, you can make everyone around you feel special and loved!

2) The sky’s the limit, you can learn how to make your favorite food

If you know how to read, you can learn how to cook; there are hundreds of recipes out there waiting for you!

Mexican, Italian, French, you name it! Just follow the directions. Start making simple things such as rice or beans, then go for something a little bit more complicated.

Learning how to make new dishes is so fun! And it can be a unique experience for you!

3) It’s good for your pocket

Eating out is extremely expensive. According to Bloomberg, for the first time in 2015,  Americans spent more money on restaurants and bars than in the grocery store.

Although this is good for restaurants, it isn’t good for you at all. Think about your pocket. Depending on where you live, a nice meal will cost you anywhere between 8 to 12 dollars.

If you eat out twice a day, you’ll be paying around 112 to 168 dollars a week, seven days of the week!  Let alone 448 to 672 dollars a month! For real, get a savings account and don’t waste your money.

4) If you prepare enough, it will take you less time

Can you wait 40 minutes for a delivery?

If you answered yes, then you have time. Are you willing to drive back and forth to a restaurant and wait for your meal to be served? If you answered yes, then you have time.

It can be hard to stop the habit of eating out, but once you start making your meals, you’ll learn tricks always to have food in the fridge, and therefore the act of putting a meal together shouldn’t take you more time than the trip to a restaurant.

5) You control the ingredients, you know what is in your food

Every time you cook, you are aware of what is going into your mouth. Although I love eating out, I can’t always trust what I am eating.

I don’t know where the ingredients came from, whether they are healthy or not. In the end, restaurants tend to focus more on flavor.

That’s why you see entrées with over 1.000 calories, and that’s more than half of what you should consume every day.

6) Say goodbye to the boring frozen meals

Maybe you don’t eat out, but you like to visit the grocery store’s frozen aisle.

I must admit that once in a blue moon, I will have some frozen meals as well. However, there is no homeyness in them.  You can learn how to put your style in your meals, and you’ll love them more.

If you cook big batches of food, you can even freeze your meals.

7) You will feel eager to experiment and create your own recipes

Once you learn the basics, you can start experimenting! When I first started cooking, I would always follow the recipe. I wouldn’t dare to change a thing.

Now, I still look for recipes. Of course, I like to mix things up. From your experiences, you will learn what flavors go well together, to the point you will be looking at fewer recipes and making more of your own.

As you get better and better, you will depend more on your creativity to put together amazing recipes. After all, cooking is an art.

8) No matter where you are, you won’t miss out!

No matter where you live, your cooking skills we’ll come in handy! Even though I knew a couple of recipes when I first moved here, I still missed Colombian food so much.

Nonetheless, my desire to learn has allowed me to enjoy dishes that bring back so many good memories and make me feel like I am back home.

9) You can host parties and invite people over

Are you an extrovert? Do you like being surrounded by other people? I love it! And one of my favorite things in the world is cooking something good for someone I care about. For real, who doesn’t like the combination of family, friends, and food?

This time you’ll get the opportunity to impress and get compliments about your new cooking skills. It’s a very practical way to serve those we love!

Are you ready? Whether you’re new to cooking or an expert, I hope you have found this post useful! Do you have any questions or would like me to cover any other topics?

I’m looking forward to hearing from you!