Wish You Can Cook at Home, you can do it

How to Cook at Home While Living a Busy Life

We’ve all heard the excuses (and maybe used them ourselves): “I just don’t have time to cook!” or “Preparing meals is too much work” or "I'm too tired when I get home. Here's the reality: eating out every day may save you time in the short term, but it could wreak havoc on your health in the long term. From hidden sugars and sodium to unhealthy fats, restaurant meals often come with a host of ingredients that can lead to weight gain, chronic diseases, and fatigue.

Cooking at home doesn’t have to be a monumental task. The cooking part? That’s usually straightforward. It’s the preparation that takes up most of the time. But with a bit of organization, you can make the process smooth and sustainable—even with a busy schedule.

Develop your own system

Let’s face it: the healthiest meal you can eat is the one you cook at home. Why? Because you’re in control of the ingredients, the cooking methods, and the portion sizes. You know exactly what’s going into your body, unlike the mystery sauces and calorie-laden surprises you get from takeout, ending up in the restroom (you know what I mean). But here’s the million-dollar question: how do you fit cooking into an already hectic lifestyle?

The answer lies in two simple yet powerful strategies: preparing in advance and cooking for multiple days. Thus, here is what I did, and what also you can do, I developed my own cooking preparation system.    

First Strategy, 

Think of cooking at home like preparing for a big project at work. You wouldn’t start a presentation without gathering your data or organizing your slides, right? The same goes for meals. Spend some time each week—maybe on a Sunday or your day off—to get everything ready. Here’s what you can do:

• Chop vegetables: Slice and dice everything you’ll need for the week and store them in airtight containers. This saves valuable minutes on weeknights.
• Pre-cook proteins: Grill chicken, cook ground beef, or bake fish in bulk. Store them in the fridge so they’re ready to go.
• Make staples: Boil rice, quinoa, or Lentil flour pasta and portion them out. These can be reheated or used as a base for various meals. (it is healthier to cook rice one day in advance) 
• Batch sauces and dressings: Whipping up a homemade vinaigrette or pasta natural sauce in advance can elevate your meals without extra effort during the week.

By investing an hour or two upfront, you’ll shave off a ton of time during the week.

Second Strategy,

Here’s another game-changer: stop thinking you have to cook every single night. Instead, embrace the art of batch cooking. Make larger portions of meals that can last you two or three days. Think soups, beef stews or chicken cubes. These dishes often taste even better the next day as the spices and sauce flavors meld together.  

For example, roast a whole tray of vegetables and a sheet pan of salmon on Monday. Pair them with rice for dinner that night, then use the leftovers for a salad or grain bowl on Tuesday. Cook once, eat twice (or thrice). It’s efficient and ensures you always have something nutritious on hand.

Why It’s Worth It

Home-cooked meals don’t just nourish your body; they also save you money and can be a creative outlet. Plus, knowing you’re taking control of your health is empowering. The hardest part is building the habit, but once you get into the groove of preparing and batch cooking, it’ll feel less like a chore and more like a routine.

So, the next time you’re tempted to say, “I don’t have time to cook,” remember: the healthiest meal is the one you make yourself. With a little planning and some smart strategies, even the busiest lifestyle can make room for homemade goodness.