Who Hates Cooking?

Tip # 1: Cook on Sundays! Crazy suggestion you're saying! Believe me, it has really worked for me. I know that this sounds like a lot of work; but cooking our weekly meals on Sundays has become a family routine that has been quite fulfilling for me as a working mom. You just cook the meals, package and label them, put them in the freezer and when you're ready for that meal, take it out, heat it up and serve. 

Tip #2: Don't make it gourmet! I always make sure to fix a salad, vegetable, fresh fruit and side stuff like Celery, baby carrots at every meal. This way, there is plenty to choose from for the picky eaters (including my husband) and even if it's frozen pasta you are serving, they at least get the nutrition from the fresh stuff. 

Tip #3: Get organized! I was not always familiar with all the items in my refrigerator or the pantry (my kids are). Create a grocery list on your computer or, even better, as a note on your cell phone.  Also make a list of spices and other food items that you use to cook your best recipes.  These will be the items you need to keep on hand. This way, you will have the list on hand for every trip to the grocery store.

Tip #4: Create a weekly menu! Doesn't sound fun planning ahead but once you have the hang of it, life gets easier. Before heading out to the grocery store, ask your family to participate in helping you with the menu. This can be an opportunity for discussion of other events happening in your families daily lives that normally they wouldn't talk about due to time constraints. 

Tip #5: Research, research and research! If you are not a great cook (and I'm not), there are many online cooking sites with easy recipes to give you a jump start on your cooking venture as well as purchasing those cookbooks that they have in every checkstand. Look at it as a new hobby.  As you learn new delicious recipes, you may find that cooking can be really fun.

Tip #6: Make it part of your family time! Pull your kids and husband away from the TV, video games, iPhones and the couch and bring them into to the kitchen on Sundays – kind of like what you would do during the holidays. You’ll be amazed at how much your kids will enjoy helping you cook meals (I was).

Do you hate cooking? Tell us why and what tips can you offer?

Written by: Brydie Clark