Living a Simple Life with a Back Porch View

The Other Benefits of Cooking at Home

March 13, 2023 Julie @ The Farm Wife Season 2 Episode 50
Living a Simple Life with a Back Porch View
The Other Benefits of Cooking at Home
Show Notes Transcript

“I’m guilty of talking a lot about cooking your meals at home. For the most part, I discuss the practicality of it, and how it can save you money. And those are both true. But did you know there are other benefits to it as well?

The most common benefit of cooking at home is that you get a chance to clean out your refrigerator, pantry, and freezer. I don’t know about you, but there are times when I open up any of the three, and things start falling out on me. There is nothing worse than having a frozen roast fall on your foot!

Instead of limping around the rest of the day, pull that roast out. Look in your refrigerator and pantry for some fresh carrots, onions, and potatoes. If you don’t have time to watch over it all day, then pop it in the slow cooker. At the end of the day, your dinner will be all but ready to go on the table.”

Listen in and learn the other benefits of cooking your meals at home. You may just end up enjoying the process more than you could ever believe!

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I’m guilty of talking a lot about cooking your meals at home. For the most part, I discuss the practicality of it, and how it can save you money. And those are both true. But did you know there are other benefits to it as well?

The most common benefit of cooking at home is that you get a chance to clean out your refrigerator, pantry, and freezer. I don’t know about you, but there are times when I open up any of the three, and things start falling out on me. There is nothing worse than having a frozen roast fall on your foot!

Instead of limping around the rest of the day, pull that roast out. Look in your refrigerator and pantry for some fresh carrots, onions, and potatoes. If you don’t have time to watch over it all day, then pop it in the slow cooker. At the end of the day, your dinner will be all but ready to go on the table. 

Sitting at the table and enjoying the meal also gives you a chance to relax for a moment. It gives you time to catch up with what other family members are doing. This is your chance to ask questions, share a joke, or just enjoy each other’s company. 

One rule about dinner time conversation should be to keep it light. There is enough heaviness in this world as it is. We all need a break from it, even if it is only for the length of time it takes to eat a meal. 

Bringing up sticky subjects, swapping harsh words, and just being grumpy in general is a great way to spoil the atmosphere. No one will enjoy the delicious meal you just worked so hard to create. They will become antsy, discouraged, and if you aren’t careful, you may just end up with a food fight on your hands. 

Having a meal with your family is a great time to offer encouragement, praise, and other accolades. Don’t just enjoy the food – enjoy the people, as well. Embrace those moments, as they will soon become the pleasant memories you and your family will look back on.

Once dinner is over, take a moment to think about the conversation you just had with your family while you are doing dishes. Think about ways you can encourage your child when they share their dreams. Did one family member seem to be quieter than normal? It may signal a need to check on them and see if things are okay. Make a mental note of these things. If there seems to be a problem, find the appropriate opportunity to address it. Do you need to offer a bit more support or encouragement? Remind yourself to include that in your daily conversations with that person. Or – use the ‘sticky note’ approach. Buy a pack of sticky notes and use them to stick notes of encouragement on a mirror, in a lunch box or backpack, or even on a pillow. 

Cooking meals at home does mean you have to clean up afterwards. But do you think about how even cleaning the kitchen can be a blessing? It gives you time to think about the luxury of having the food you just consumed. You have time to quietly contemplate the fact you were just able to sit at the table, surrounded by your family, without the distractions of a phone, television, or chores.

Some days, our life can get so hectic, we barely have time to think, much less get everything done. While you are putting food in containers and storing them away, you can ‘steal’ a few moments, and use the time to meditate, pray, or just to breathe!  

If you are fortunate enough to have help while cooking dinner or cleaning up afterwards, take advantage and have a one-on-one conversation with your help. It may be a spouse, child, or friend, but some of the most interesting (and possibly telling) conversations seem to take place when your hands are busy with another task. Be sure to listen longer and talk less.

If you need to offer advice, do it carefully. Don’t toss out judgement; instead, try to be as understanding as possible. 

Be sure you don’t get distracted by your own thoughts – instead truly listen. Don’t just hear the words that are being said. Listen for what isn’t spoken – the tone in which the words are delivered, a shakiness or hint of laughter, and even take a peek every now and then to observe the body language. Many times, you can hear more with your eyes than with your ears. 

By doing more listening, you are fully engaged with whomever is talking. And they can sense it. If you come across distracted, they will shrug it off and change the subject. Instead, truly hear what they are saying. By listening and being understanding, you are telling that person they are important – and feeling important goes a long way in creating deeper bonds. 

Cooking meals at home is also a great way to ‘feed’ your creativity. Look at ways you can jazz up your meals. Instead of serving plain mashed potatoes, add a little bit of chives, sour cream, and cheese. Instead of store-bought rolls, make a batch of Paradise Muffins (and yes, there is a link to that recipe in the show notes!) Consider each family member’s likes and dislikes when it comes to food and have one night a week to create a meal just for them.

If you ever find yourself groaning at the thought of having to cook yet another meal, take a moment to think again. Instead of dreading the process, ponder the benefits that come with it. You might just discover that cooking meals at home isn’t so bad after all. And if you do still have to limp because that roast fell out of the freezer, just consider it pay back when you pop it into the oven!

 

If you want to learn more about the topic at hand just visit my website at https://www.thefarmwife.com. If you have questions or just want to stop in for a visit, you can do that through email at thevirtualporch@gmail.com

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Thanks again for stopping in. I will see you next week on Living a Simple Life with a Back Porch View. And while you are waiting on the next episode, grab that glass of refreshment, pull up a rocker, and sit back for a while. It’s time to relax and enjoy.

Paradise Muffins (recipe)