Redefining cooking

You get to the end of your workday. And you realize that you don’t have anything to eat. You are tempted to despair because this feels like one more insurmountable task when all you want to do is relax.

Stop right there.

Surprisingly enough, making a meal with your hands can be rewarding after a long day at work or school. It is a tangible fruit that you can receive right after you create it.

While cooking isn’t everyone’s favorite pastime, shifting your mentality around making a meal can bring a world of difference. Instead of making it out to be a chore, find the little ways that nourishing your body can be a leisurely experience that nourishes your soul.

Below is a compiled list of four tips to craft your own dinnertime experience.

photo from Wix media library

1) Plan ahead

Part of the stress that comes with after-work meal-making is that your stomach is running on empty. Of course the cooking process is going to feel daunting. You’re hungry, and that’s okay. See step three for a solution to when this inevitably does happen. However, there is a way to prevent this from happening too often.

Find a time in the week when you can plan out your meals for the week. As you practice, you will discover how often you need to cook throughout the week. But knowing this in advance will help you prep for what nights you do need to cook. This might mean having some meat prepped for when you get home. This might mean that your dry ingredients are already lined up on the counter. Or it might simply mean that you’re not overwhelmed with the idea of knives and pans because you expected to cook that night.

2) Set the atmosphere

This is key to separating the concept of chores from cooking. Dim the lights, light a candle, put on some of your favorite cooking music, and maybe ev

en pour yourself a glass of wine. You are creating an atmosphere that isn’t hurried. Cooking can be enjoyable when it isn’t rushed. (Step one will help with that). But crafting a relaxing environment to encourage feelings of enjoyment takes it one step further.

3) Refine your staples

Having surefire meals that you know you can whip up in a pinch is essential to not feeling burnt out before you even enter the kitchen. Figure out what those meals are for you and stick to them when life gets a little hectic. Especially if you’re not the biggest fan of cooking, it might be good to stick to the basics for a while before you branch out.

4) Explore new options

Part of the fun of cooking is trying something new. Mixing up your cuisine options every once in a while can help prevent cooking from feeling like it’s a chore or too routine. In the right circumstances, (see steps one through three), exploring new culinary endeavors can be a fun and exciting challenge. Plus, you’ll get some delicious new food out of your effort.

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Cooking doesn’t have to be something you dread post-work. With the right mindset and the proper preparatory steps, you are already one (or four) steps closer to looking forward to mealtime.

In fact, making a meal can be just the thing you need to unwind after a long day.