Cooking from scratch is not only a great way to save money, but it can also have a huge impact on your physical and mental well-being. As a homesteader, this is an essential skill that will not only save you money but also provide a sense of accomplishment. In this blog post, we’ll explore the joys and benefits of cooking from scratch and provide tips to help get you started on your culinary journey. Get ready to fall in love with the simple pleasures of homemade food!
Introduction to cooking from scratch
If you’re like most Americans, cooking from scratch is probably not something you do on a regular basis. In fact, according to a recent study, less than half of us know how to cook meals from scratch.
That’s such a shame because cooking from scratch can have a profound impact on your overall health and wellness. Here are just a few of the benefits:
- Cooking from scratch allows you to control the ingredients in your food. This means you can avoid unhealthy additives and preservatives that are often found in processed foods.
- Cooking from scratch can help you save money. When you cook at home, you don’t have to pay for the added cost of restaurants or convenience foods.
- Cooking from scratch gives you the opportunity to eat more nutrient-rich foods. Home-cooked meals tend to be lower in calories and fat than restaurant foods, and they often contain more vitamins and minerals.
- Cooking from scratch allows you to customize your food to fit your own taste preferences and dietary needs. If you have food allergies or sensitivities, cooking at home gives you the ability to avoid problem ingredients altogether.
- Cooking from scratch can be a fun and rewarding experience! There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of preparing a delicious meal for yourself or your loved ones using healthy, whole ingredients.
Benefits of Growing Your Own Food
When it comes to homesteading and cooking from scratch, it’s best if you can start by growing your own food. There are so many benefits to growing your own food including improved physical and mental health, increased self-sufficiency, and a more sustainable lifestyle.
Physical health benefits: Growing your own food can help you get more exercise and fresh air, both of which are crucial for physical health. Additionally, gardening can help reduce stress levels and improve sleep quality.
Mental health benefits: The process of growing food from seed to table can be therapeutic and calming, providing a much-needed respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Gardening can also boost self-esteem and confidence, as well as provide a sense of accomplishment.
Increased self-sufficiency: When you grow your own food, you become less reliant on others for your sustenance. This can lead to a greater sense of independence and empowerment. Not to mention, it can also save you money in the long run!
Sustainable lifestyle: Growing your own food is an excellent way to live a more sustainable lifestyle. It cuts down on transportation emissions associated with buying groceries, reduces packaging waste, and helps conserve water resources.
Nutritional Benefits of Home-Cooked Meals
There are many benefits to cooking meals at home from scratch, including the nutritional benefits. When you cook from scratch, you have complete control over the ingredients that go into your food. This means you can choose foods that are high in nutrients and low in unhealthy ingredients.
Home-cooked meals are also typically lower in calories than restaurant meals or processed foods. And, since you’re likely to eat smaller portions of a home-cooked meal, you’ll end up consuming fewer calories overall.
Another benefit of homemade meals is that they tend to be more satisfying than processed or fast foods. This is because whole foods contain more fiber and protein, which help keep you feeling full longer. Cooking from scratch also allows you to add more fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats to your diet, all of which can promote better health.
Get Started Growing Your Own Food So You Can Cook From Scratch
If you’re thinking about growing your own food so that you can begin to cook from scratch, you should check out my Ultimate Beginners Guide to Home Gardening or even my article on Urban Homesteading. Both these articles provide fantastic tips on how to start your home garden regardless of where you live.
Cost Savings of Cooking from Scratch
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, cooking from scratch can save you money in the long run. Here are some ways that cooking from scratch can help you save money:
- You can buy in bulk. When you cook from scratch, you can buy ingredients in bulk and save money. This is especially true if you buy dry goods like grains and beans in bulk. Buying in bulk can also help you save on fresh ingredients like fruits and vegetables.
- You can make your own staples. Staples like bread, pasta, rice, and cereal are all relatively easy to make at home and they cost a fraction of the price of store-bought versions. By making your own staples, you can save a lot of money on your grocery bill.
- You can leftovers into new meals. Cooking from scratch gives you the opportunity to turn leftovers into new meals. This means that you won’t have to waste food or spend money on new ingredients. For example, you can turn leftover chicken into a chicken pot pie or use leftover rice to make fried rice.
- You can avoid processed foods. Believe it or not, processed foods are often more expensive than unprocessed foods. By cooking from scratch, you can avoid processed foods altogether and save money on your grocery bill
Conclusion
Learning to cook from scratch can be a great way to boost your overall wellness. Not only will you have more control over the ingredients that go into your meals, but you’ll also gain a greater appreciation for where your food comes from and better understand how it affects your body. With these skills under your belt, cooking at home is a fun and rewarding experience that can help lead you down the path of improved health.
