Why Your Lack of Cooking Expertise Shouldn’t Stop You From Eating Healthily

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It’s an inconvenient truth that not all of us are great in the kitchen. In fact, some of us aren’t even ‘fair to middling’ when it comes to activities of the culinary variety. But that’s ok: everyone has their own unique and special set of skills that they bring to the table, and if we were all cordon bleu chefs, who would repair our ovens when they broke down, provide the produce for our masterpieces, or ensure our accounts are in order?

A lack of cooking expertise is no longer an obstacle to healthy eating; keep reading for hints, tips, and tricks to ensure you’re getting a nutritious diet, even if the most complex kitchen gadget you own is a garlic crusher.

Easy Pea-sy

Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated, and there are plenty of meals you can throw quickly and easily together that are both healthy and delicious.

One Pan Pasta

For example, make an easy one-pan pasta dish by popping a handful of frozen peas and spinach into a pan of boiling water along with some dried pasta; cook on the hob for about twelve minutes, and then simply sprinkle over some grated cheddar or parmesan and herbs, or drizzle over some olive oil and toss in a handful of sliced black olives.

Simple Slow Cooking

A slow cooker can be your best friend if you’ve not got much in the way of kitchen chops. For a no-hassle casserole, all you need to do is brown some meat on the hob – or use tofu – add a tablespoon or two of flour to the pan, and then slowly stir in stock. Add this to your slow cooker along with a selection of vegetables and seasoning. Pop on the lid, put your slow cooker on a low setting, and, in around eight hours, you’ll have a mouth-watering meal.

Really Easy Risotto

Another perfect one-pan meal that requires no culinary expertise: risotto! Add some mushrooms, tomatoes, greens, and/or bacon to the pan and fry for a few minutes, then add a cup of rice. Next, stir in the stock and seasoning, and you’re nearly done. Let your pan simmer for about half an hour, topping up with stock if needed – a few minutes before serving, stir in a couple of tablespoons of cream if you like for a super easy, nutritious, and yummy meal.

Use a Meal Delivery Service

If your dislike of cooking is such that you’d prefer to avoid putting together even simple meals – or perhaps your lifestyle is so hectic that finding the time to shop for and cook healthy dinners is tricky – then there’s a solution!

There is now a wide range of meal delivery services on the market that will have either completely pre-prepared meals or meal kits brought to your day for the ultimate in cooking convenience. If you aren’t interested in developing your cooking skills, then a meal delivery service from which you can order meal kits could be the perfect option.

Most meal kits include pre-portioned and prepared ingredients, and easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, so they’re a great way to ensure you eat healthily without needing to spend hours over a hot stove to do so!

Can’t Cook? Don’t Cook!

There are other alternatives to cooking, too, that can also make for healthy options. Pop into the deli on the way home from work to pick up a selection of meats and cheeses, and serve simply with salad, vinaigrette, and crusty bread rolls.

Or you could load wholewheat tortillas with canned tuna, sweetcorn, and tomatoes and add a dollop of creme fraiche for a nutritious supper that’s ready in minutes. Anchovies on toast, a bowl of tomato soup served with brown bread, and jacket potatoes loaded with ready-cooked prawns, baked beans, or grated cheese are all options that are so easy to prepare that putting them together doesn’t qualify as cooking!

Your Freezer is Your Friend

Making the most of your freezer is key to eating healthily if you lack the skills or inclination to cook. Keeping your freezer well-stocked with a range of frozen vegetables will enable you to make even the easiest of meals or prepared foods extra healthy: add a handful of spinach to the top of a pizza before it goes in the oven, for example, or throw some frozen chopped carrots into the slow cooker casserole we discussed making earlier.

Frozen chicken breasts and salmon are also great options to keep in the freezer: to cook, simply wrap in a foil parcel with a knob of butter or a drizzle of olive oil and some herbs and pop into the oven – check the package carefully for cooking times.

Keeping a bag or two of frozen mixed berries in your freezer means you can easily whip up a quick smoothie by simply adding to your blender with some yogurt and honey to help you on your way to five a day.

Effortlessly Healthy Eating

Use the tips and hacks above to ensure your body is receiving the nutrients it needs, no matter how few culinary skills you have or how busy your life tends to be. Planning ahead, using a meal delivery service, and mastering a few simple dishes that can be widely adapted are perfect ways to stay healthy without needing to spend hours in the kitchen.

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