Cooking Tips

Cooking can seem difficult, but with a little practice, it can be very easy. These tips can help you get started:

Start slowly

If you don't cook very often now, start by trying it once or twice a week. When you are comfortable with that, you can start cooking more often.

Think about food groups

You don't need to include all 5 food groups in one meal, but having several different foods is a good idea. Each food group helps your body in different ways. By including 2 or 3 food groups in a meal, you are building a healthy, balanced meal.

Don’t forget fruits and veggies

MyPlate recommends that half your plate be fruits and vegetables. This means eating 5 servings a day. Eating fruits and vegetables with each meal or for a snack can help you reach this goal.

Adapt recipes

Sometimes your favorite recipes aren't super healthy. Making recipes healthier can be as easy as changing a few ingredients. CNP’s Healthy Alternatives lesson can help you with this.

Make cooking family time

Cooking can be hard and tiring if you are the only one doing it. Encourage your family to help make meals. Children love being in the kitchen and feeling included. They can be a big help with preparing foods and other tasks, which can make cooking more fun for everyone. Plus, by including your kids in the kitchen you are teaching them an important lifelong skill: how to cook!

Plan and prepare

Time often stops people from cooking. But, if you can make a plan and do some preparation work before a meal, it is easier to cook. Trying chopping up vegetables and freezing them for future use or cooking extras, like rice, for use in multiple meals.