Are you asked the questions “Would you like fries with that?” or “Is that for here or to go?” multiple times throughout the week? Newsflash: It may be time to change your eating habits and start cooking your own food.
There’s no denying that it’s easier to swing by Chipotle for a burrito bowl on the way home from class or get a Beach Club sandwich from Jimmy John’s delivered right to your door. But listen up, collegiettes. There is a whole new world out there waiting for you to discover it. It’s a healthier, more fulfilling world in which everyone cooks his or her own food rather than eating at restaurants every day — a world that we should all strive to live in.
Though one may pose the excuse that he or she doesn’t have enough time to cook their own food, there are numerous benefits to cooking that may influence you to make time for cooking. If you need a little convincing then here are some reasons…
For one, cooking saves a ton of money. To put it in perspective, one Jimmy John’s sub costs about $6. At a typical grocery store, a loaf of bread costs about $2.50 and a pound of lunchmeat is about $7.50. That’s a week’s worth of sandwiches for a little more than the cost of one sub at Jimmy John’s. By shopping wisely at cheaper grocery stores like Trader Joe’s, you can make sure that your money is a lot better spent.
Making your own food is also a whole lot healthier. Fast food restaurants are typically only concerned with making your food tasty, not healthy, by adding excessive salt, sugar, and fat. By cooking your own food, you’re better able to control what’s going in your mouth since fast food restaurants tend to sneak in unknown additives. Let’s be real; does anyone really know what’s actually in a burrito from Taco Bell? Plus, fast foods can make you feel bloated; meanwhile, a healthier dish of homemade chicken and broccoli would give you an extra boost of energy for studying!
Cooking is also a fun way to get in touch with your creativity and explore new options for meals that you may not have otherwise tried. Plan a dinner party with your closest friends and have everyone cook one interesting dish to share. Zucchini lasagna? Why not? A simple search on Pinterest will be sure to spark some creative recipe ideas. Who knows… you could discover a new passion for cooking!
With this generation’s fast-paced nature, taking the time to cook is a way to preserve a dying tradition. Some of my fondest memories from growing up were ones cooking spaghetti with my mom and enjoying it around the dinner table with my family. Nowadays, many collegiettes may not know how to cook a simple meal because they have grown to rely on fast food so much. Think about those memories you may have from your childhood, and think about your future… Are you going to be feeding your kids McDonald’s every night or do you want to cook them a hearty, wholesome meal?
Eating in is also a great way to reduce waste and go green. Between the cups, bags, containers, and plastic utensils you get when you order out from a restaurant, so much is thrown away and rarely recycled. Additionally, tons of food are wasted at restaurants, whereas you’re probably more likely to save your food for leftovers if you made the effort to cook it yourself. It’s so rewarding to know you’re doing your part to preserve Mother Earth by simply cooking your own food.
It may be hard to turn down the ever-so-tempting Chick-fil-A for a spicy chicken sandwich. But keep these benefits of making your own food in mind and you’ll feel more empowered to change your eating habits. You’ll feel more frugal, healthy, creative, independent, and eco-friendly if you do so. Happy cooking, collegiettes!
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