Has your love for cooking vanished? Do you always end up cooking the same old meals, rely on takeaways or skip meals?
It’s very normal for motivation to ebb and flow, especially in the kitchen. Fatigue, tiredness, boredom and lack of time can all influence our motivation levels.
Fortunately, there are some easy things we can do to make cooking less of a struggle.
Try these tips:
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Planning your menus can make cooking easier. If you wait until you're hungry to decide what to make, you'll probably just end up making something quick and boring or make an unhealthy choice. Mapping things out gives you time to think of some interesting meals and stock up on the ingredients you need. It will also save you money and reduce food waste – a win-win!
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Ask your kids what they want to make or put together a list of “whānau favourites”. They might remind you of a meal you haven’t made in quite some time. Bonus, get them to help you cook it! Talk to your partner about sharing the load. Having a couple of days off each week can make all the difference.
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One of the best ways to rediscover your love for cooking is to cook for friends. Cooking just for yourself can get boring but cooking for other people can be much more enjoyable. Invite friends around for dinner, and chat to them while you're preparing the food - they can even join in with the preparations. If this sounds too much, host a potluck dinner, where everyone contributes. It’s bound to lead to some recipe sharing!
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Cooking larger amounts of food so you can store some for later is a great way to have healthy meals ready when you need them. Leftovers can be frozen for several months or refrigerated. Just remember the 2-2-2 rule. Cool them, cover them and get them into the fridge within two hours of cooking. Eat your leftovers within two days. If you’re not going to eat your leftovers within two days, freeze them. Leftovers will keep for 2 months in the freezer. Remember to label and date them.
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Making large batches of base recipes that can be used in a variety of different ways is another great strategy. For example you could spend a weekend cooking up and freezing batches of homemade tomato sauce. Its really easy to pull them out for quick, throw together meals such as pizza and pasta dishes. Here’s a great base recipe to get your started.
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Plan on simple meals that are tried and true so you don’t have to think too much about cooking. Slow cookers are great as you can set and forget.
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Find out what’s in season and look at really celebrating them in your cooking. Each season offers up a range of interesting and inspiring fresh ingredients. Take a walk around your local fruit and vege shop or farmers market and pick up some seasonal produce. Visit www.vegetables.co.nz for recipes and information on New Zealand grown vegetables, their seasonal availability, cooking ideas, healthy eating and nutrition information.
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If you are eating eggs, sandwiches, or toast for dinner most evenings, don't demand multi-course dinners of yourself. Keep it simple and try adding condiments, a side salad, some cooked vege, some protein or other flavour boosters. Take a look at some of our simplier recipes like the Cheese and Herb Omelette
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When making changes, introduce these slowly. Plan one or two meals for the week, then move to planning more when you see the benefits of meal planning.
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Try growing your own fruit and vegetables, and you'll love cooking with them. Store-bought produce never tastes as good as something picked from your own garden. Even the smallest garden has space for some pots; there are many varieties of fruit, vegetables and herbs that are suitable for growing in pots.
Try some of these tips and you'll soon discover (or rediscover) just how enjoyable cooking can be!
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