Did you know that many Americans do not actually cook for themselves? In fact, many do not even know how to cook.

Millions of people end up getting their meals at fast-food restaurants or relying on services like UberEats or DoorDash. The reliance on takeaway meals every day of the week is not something that is good for your health (or wallet) long term.

In fact, making food for yourself is so important and something that you should certainly prioritize doing more and more. While it is totally okay to splurge and enjoy a meal out every now and then, studies are showing that the easiest way to live a holistic life is by making food for yourself.

But if making food for yourself is something that you have really never done before, it can definitely seem overwhelming in terms of knowing where to start. What do you make? How do you make it? What should be in your kitchen?

Cooking for yourself takes practice, but you certainly do not need to do it all on your own. In fact, the more you practice, the better you are going to get!

So we have rounded up all the ways to actually start making food for yourself, from signing up for meal delivery services to writing weekly meal lists, here are the top tips to become the ultimate at-home chef!

1. Write Down Reasons Why You Aren’t Cooking Yet

First, you will want to address your fears, hesitations, and reasons why you have hesitated about cooking for yourself. Figuring out why you have avoided this for so many years is a great starting point. Are you simply scared to learn? Do you not have enough time in the day? Are you overwhelmed by grocery shop? Understanding the why is the most important step in changing your habits.

2. Build a Weekly Routine

The best way to make food for yourself more regularly is to make it part of your daily routine. The more become accustomed to something, the more you are going to do it. So start by writing out a weekly calendar and marking the days you are going to cook for yourself—slotting in at least an hour of your day to do just that. Or, you can meal prep and cook multiple meals for the week on one set day.

3. Sign Up for Meal Delivery

Another great way to cook for yourself more without having to stress is by signing up for a meal delivery service. You will get a week’s worth of food that is perfectly organized based on the recipes they have also sent you. This means that all you have to do is put the ingredients in your fridge or pantry, pick a recipe for the night and follow the instructions step by step. Cooking for yourself has never been so easy or effortless. Best of all, if you like the recipe, you can simply re-stock up on those ingredients later on.

4. Go to a Cooking Class

If you want to enjoy cooking for yourself more and grow your confidence in it too, then sign yourself up for a basic cooking class. A professional will teach you all you need to know about how to use kitchenware, basic techniques to use for pretty much all meals, and even how to make a variety of meals too. You can do this in either a group setting or a private setting. We guarantee it will be fun, and delicious and you will enjoy enhancing your skills too.

5. Cook More for Leftovers

You actually do not have to whip up a new meal every single day. In fact, try doubling the recipe when you do cook so you have enough leftovers for the next few days too. This means you will really only have to cook for yourself a couple of times a week but you will be able to enjoy healthy, fresh, and home-cooked meals daily and avoid the temptation of going through the drive-thru.

6. Make Food You Like

Another important tip to follow is that you should cook food that you actually like. So if you are craving a burger, make one yourself at home rather than ordering one on doordash. Chances are you can find a recipe that will give you all the tips and tricks to make it pretty much taste the same too. The perks are it will be less greasy, healthier, and cheaper. You do not have to suffer from boring food when you cook for yourself. It should be fun and you should enjoy eating what you make.

7. Organize Dinner Parties

Another great motivation to cook more is to organize dinner parties. This means inviting a group of friends over and preparing a few shared dishes that you can all enjoy together. It will hold you accountable and provide amazing memories too.

Conclusion

With so many great ways to start cooking for yourself more, what will you be making next?