Let me say before you read this article, that I understand that preparing meals takes time from your busy day.  Especially if you have children involved in activities and take up time with transportation, spectating and coaching.  This is not an attempt to nutrition shame  or lecture the reader.  It is to help open your eyes to the importance of cooking meals from fresh, whole ingredients.  There is many a time that I would like to go through a drive thru or order take-out last minute, but a commitment to scratch cooking, budget and the big picture dissuade me.  

Like creating a budget for your money, create a budget for your time.   By doing this, you probably will be able to carve out some time to do more scratch cooking for your family.  Plan your meals and try to do pre-prep for the next meal while prepping the current meal.  Also, make sure everyone  is involved in the process.  Three to four hands preparing a meal are a lot better than one, and creates family time.

In an era marked by fast-paced lifestyles and an abundance of convenience foods, the art of scratch cooking at home stands as a mainstay of health and nourishment for families and children.  Due to the ability to create more nutrient-dense meals plus its long-term health benefits, the habit of scratch cooking will create a healthier future for your family.

Processed foods, laden with artificial additives, preservatives, and excessive amounts of salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, pose significant threats to health. These products often lack essential nutrients while contributing to a range of health issues, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Similarly, commercially prepared meals including some from restaurants, while convenient, frequently fall short in terms of nutritional quality.  This sacrifices health for the sake of ease.  Scratch cooking lowers the odds of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.  

In contrast to processed and prepared foods, scratch cooking revolves around the use of whole, fresh ingredients. Individuals have greater control over the composition and quality of their meals, resulting in dishes that are inherently more nutrient-dense. Fresh produce, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats converge to create a symphony of flavors and nutrients, nourishing both body and soul.

As acclaimed chef and advocate for scratch cooking, Jamie Oliver, aptly states, “Cooking from scratch is the single most important thing we could do as a family to improve our health and general well-being.” This sentiment underscores the transformative power of homemade meals in promoting good health.

By prioritizing whole foods and minimizing the consumption of processed ingredients, individuals can better regulate their intake of essential nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants. Furthermore, the act of preparing meals from scratch fosters mindfulness and connection with food, promoting a deeper appreciation for the culinary arts.  It also makes the family understand what is going in their bodies and how it benefits them.  Studies have shown that improved nutrition from home cooked meals have led to a significant increase in physical activity and improved cognitive function, in school age children.  

Nutritional expert Marion Nestle asserts, “When people cook most of their meals at home, they consume fewer calories, less sugar, and less fat than those who cook less or not at all.”   This observation underscores the intrinsic health-promoting properties of scratch cooking.

Making scratch cooking a bigger part of your meal plans will help yield profound long-term health benefits for the whole family but have an bigger impact on young eaters. This will help create healthy eating habits from an early age.   Home cooking will  mitigate the risk of chronic diseases and lay the groundwork for a lifetime of well-being. Getting your children involved  in the preparation of scratch cooking has infinite valeue.  The cultivation of culinary skills and nutritional knowledge equips children with the tools necessary to make informed dietary choices as they navigate adulthood.

Renowned nutritionist Michael Pollan advocates for the importance of home-cooked meals, stating, “Cooking is probably the most important thing you can do to improve your diet. What matters most is not any particular nutrient, or even any particular food: it’s the act of cooking itself.”

In conclusion, scratch cooking represents a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle for families and children.  Bypassing processed and prepared foods in favor of homemade meals, individuals can enjoy the nutritional benefits and long-term health advantages that scratch cooking affords. As we harness the transformative power of the kitchen, we not only nourish our bodies but also sow the seeds of well-being for generations to come.

We know that it is very hard to be slave to the kitchen with scratch cooking.  But, with careful and mindful planning it can become an almost secondary task for you.  Habit makes the process easier.