My sisters are chefs and there was a time when my cooking ability was the butt of family jokes. My one sister thoughtfully gifted me a copy of The Joy of Cooking when I moved into my first apartment, but I found the classic tome intimidating.
I still recall scratching my head and wondering what exactly the phrase “fold in the remaining ingredients” was instructing me to do.
A History of Being A Reluctant Cook
I avoided cooking during the better part of my 20s. After my son was born, I became determined to provide more healthy home-cooked meals. Thanks to some user-friendly cookbooks, I became a passable cook in my 30s.
However, unlike my sisters, cooking has never been my passion. I am an artist and educator. So despite now being in my early fifties with a grown son and daughter—regardless of years of conditioning—I continue to be surprised when I need to pull my mind from my latest project and make dinner.
I’ve developed strategies to combat this challenge, which, if I’m being completely honest, include persuading my husband to cook, and other time-saving options.
Formerly Fearful of Produce
In addition to being slow to grasp meal planning, I also experienced bewilderment when confronted with different whole food ingredients. This wasn’t much of a problem when I considered ice cream to be a food group, but when I hit 40 and the scale passed a number previously only associated with pregnancy, I decided maybe I should learn what to do with things in the produce section.
I changed my lifestyle and adopted a whole food plant-based way of eating. Shortly thereafter my daughter was diagnosed with a wheat allergy so I added gluten-free to the mix.
Once a Teacher, Always a Teacher
I learned that making healthy meals doesn’t have to be time consuming or intimidating. I know from experience, as well as from my daughter’s struggle with food allergies, that good nutrition really does help you look and feel better.
More About Me
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