How You Know You're Not a Cook

Okay, so I have this bad habit of being too lazy to treat myself properly with the right nutrition and exercise. I get caught between feeling too busy with school work and work work to actually feel like I have a hold on my life. However, I think probably my biggest issue is that I don’t cook often. How do you even really know you’re not a good cook?

Now, I didn’t come to realize this until my friends literally told me, “You never cook, how are you even alive?” Which I promptly took much offense to by getting back at them by saying “I totally know how to cook! I just made meatloaf like… a couple weeks ago, maybe?” I realized this is exactly what someone would say when they don’t cook (I felt under pressure and my comeback game was weak, I proceeded to go to the corner and hide).

The first step of getting better is by accepting that you have a problem, so here are some indicators that’ll help you realize how you know you’re not a cook.

1. You rely on your friends, family, or partners for food

2. You haven’t gone grocery shopping in a while 

3. Fast food is your best friend 

4. You’d rather stay hungry than make something

5. Bring pre-made food to a potluck

6. Being told to make a meal leaves you feeling like you have to find your way around New York City without a map 

7. You (barely) know how to make the basics

The solution: Keep those friends close or actually learn how to cook (this one requires more effort, so no perfection guaranteed). But it is completely possible to learn, just follow after that really good friend of yours that makes a mean lasagna or get a Pinterest account that gives you recipes and instructions on easy 5 ingredient meals to get a good start.

No need to be the next Maneet Chauhan (a popular judge on the Food Network‘s show “Chopped”), just knowing the basics to making three meals a day is a good start! I believe in us, the Could-Be Cooks with Lots of Potential!