Home cooking might be the last thing on your mind when you’re swamped with work or stressed about the children. But research showed such effort would go a long way towards your family’s health and well-being.
Here are three science-backed studies that show the benefits of home cooking:
1. They Ate a Healthier Diet
Obesity is a growing problem in the UK. In the 2019 government data, over 25% of adults were obese, while 20% of the children belonged to the same category.
Meanwhile, this metabolic condition was responsible for over 10,500 hospital admissions. Obesity is a common risk factor for many chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and certain types of cancer.
While it doesn’t have a single solution, learning how to cook, perhaps with the help of a nutrition-training provider, can help reduce the risk. According to a 2014 study, people who prep meals at home were likely to consume fewer calories. They also ate less fat, salt, and sugar. Those who cooked food at home for six to seven nights per week also ate less food even when they’re in restaurants.
The researchers further noted that this behavior carried on even when the participants didn’t desire to lose weight.
2. People Who Cook Meals Also Spend Less on Food
Many people believe that cooking food, especially healthy ones, cost a lot of money. In reality, they are likely to save more cash, according to a 2017 research. The team learned that food costs didn’t change even when the subjects shifted to a healthier diet.
Even better, other types of research already shared that healthy eating can decrease the risk of obesity, which costs about £27 billion.
Why is it affordable then?
- Consumers have more control over the ingredients.
- They can buy items in bulk or find cheaper alternatives.
- Consumers can cook in batches for the entire family.
3. Home Cooking Can Boost Nutritional Well-Being of Children Later
The impact of childhood obesity can last into adulthood. When left uncontrolled, kids can develop diabetes, hypertension, and other metabolic conditions earlier than other children.
However, when they learn to eat healthily, the opposite can happen. A 2018 research in Elsevier showed that children who became adept in the kitchen might eat fewer fast-food meals. They can also consume more vegetables and even eat meals with their family.
In another study, this time by the Ohio State University, children who dined on home-cooked meals and skipped TV also lowered their obesity risk. The positive effect remained even when the family didn’t eat together all the time.
How to Make Home Cooking Easier
For many Brits, home cooking is easier said than done. Many factors can make it more of a burden than anything pleasant or helpful. However, these pointers can make it more convenient to do:
- Improve your cooking skills. A nutrition training provider can teach you techniques to save time in the kitchen without compromising food quality. You will also appreciate more the nutritional value of healthy food.
- Cook in batches. With proper meal planning, you can create over two types of dishes in an hour. You can also cook them in batches, so you need not do any cooking throughout the week.
- Keep things simple. Many recipes call for only five ingredients, while some let you cook decent meals in one pot. Slow cookers can make you amazing food by dumping all the ingredients.
With so many benefits of home cooking, it might be worth finding the time.
