Summer Cooking Challenge
One of my biggest budget busters has been my inability to eat at home… Mostly because I’m lazy, and can’t really cook. So this summer, I’m going to try to change it.
At least once each week, I’m going to go out of my way to make something brand new. This is not only good for the budget, but its probably a lot better and more healthy for me. I figure the internet offers more than enough step-by-step recipes & videos, that even someone like me could cook something edible. As I find something I’m able to make — and like — I’ll add it to the list, and hopefully by the end of the summer I’ll have enough different meal ideas to last me a while.
This is a big challenge for me, as ever since I moved out on my own, I’ve never been big on cooking. Opening the pre-packaged stuff, frozen food from Costco, or the simple meals have been staples in my life… now that I’m done school, and have all the free time in the world, I figure should work on improving that.
Of course, eating at home isn’t just about the budget, its also better food. I’ve been steering away from typical fast food — Burgers, fries, pizza — to “better” fast food, like Sushi and indian food, but even that isn’t the best. Cooking and eating at home will let me see, and control, exactly what I put in my body.
Sounds simple enough…?
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Cooking can be so much fun! You might also want to consider cooking double recipes and freezing the leftovers in meal sized portions so that you have someting to pull out of the freezer for lunches and quick dinners when you don’t have the time to cook for yourself!
Good Luck!
There was a great bit on the Jamie Oliver Food Revolution recently where he hung out with a family that got take out ALL the time, and sent the dad out for takeout, and in the time it took him to drive to the fast food place and get back, Jamie and his kids had cooked a whole meal, including dessert and appetizers, for less than half the price of the fast food. Was really fun to watch!
Good luck with your plan. Just start small with simple things, and then experiment from there. (If you’re interested, I often post simple, budget-friendly recipes on my blog.)
I totally know what you mean about feeling too lazy to cook. Oftentimes I’m so tired from work (get home around 6pm or 6:30 most days) that the last thing I want to do is think about what to cook.
I found that making a weekly meal plan and defrosting the meats the day prior really helps. Also some back up instant/easy type meals help too on the days when I don’t get my sh*t together.
Freezing foods is like my new best friend now… very helpful for lunches etc.
You’re such a guy…
Great challenge, though. Summer is usually the season I cook the least (unless I BBQ) because the heat makes me lazy! Good luck.
Haha agreed with LC, btw a stirfry is also really easy to cook up and (can be) very healthy!