Cooking At Home During The Pandemic

Cooking At Home During The Pandemic

Over the last 4 months, being coped up in the RV, I have learned to cook from home. While being at home, we have saved money, been able to calculate what we are eating, and control what we put in our bodies. Cooking At Home During The Pandemic offers a lot of health benefits and it is fun to do with the entire family. 

Cooking Inside Vs. Outside

When it comes to cooking location, choosing to cook inside or outside are great options.

When the pandemic first started, cooking inside felt safe and fun to participate with the family. As the weeks went on, we began exploring our cooking options outside. Cooking meals at home help you control what you are putting in your meals, choosing healthy, safe ingredients. 

Cooking outside is healthier because you can fry or grill and not worry about the toxins coming from the grill or fryer. Its also great, because you can cook healthier meals from stir-fries with veggies to grilled steaks. 

Another bonus to cooking outside is, you don’t have to heat your entire house to cook a meal. This is especially true when the summer heat can be brutal, heating your house is not ideal. Finding a nice shady spot outside can help ease the transition to cooking outside. 

Griddle Vs. Grill

When choosing to cook outside, next comes which way to cook? Choosing a griddle or a grill. In my experience, we’ve had both. I prefer the griddle because this opens up so many cooking styles and techniques to try. I do not enjoy the “grilled” taste or burnt-on food. Grills also have gaps, where food can drop and are not well seasoned, so food sometimes sticks. I feel like I am eating carcinogens and can’t get over this. It is a mind thing for me. Plus, there are so many things you can cook on a griddle. 

Our fourth of July cook-out was such fun. We cooked for 15 of our closest friends and family. From hot links and bacon to burgers, the griddle was full of yummy food. The griddle is smooth and flat. This makes it great for cooking breakfast foods, eggs, pancakes, and even good for grilled cheese sandwiches and quesadillas. Think of a griddle as a big frying pan. 

The griddle allows you to cook with a little grease (if you choose), making it a healthier option. I enjoy using avocado oil and lightly frying my rice and mixing in some veggies and protein to make good fried rice. You can also steam lightly fry on the griddle, so if you want your veggies cooked a bit, add some water and close the lid till they are cooked thoroughly. 

Cooking Is My Therapy

Cooking is a therapy for me, it fills my heart and soul. When I am cooking, my stress decreases. I love taking risks and trying new things. When I am in the kitchen, I am filled with love and endless possibilities. 

Cooking is very similar to meditation and yoga for me. When I am cooking I am focused and concentrating on the task at hand, creating mindfulness in my daily routine. As I begin cooking, I gain a sense of flow as I learn new skills and techniques and expand my knowledge of ways to cook. I feel at ease when I am in my own home or cooking outside. My anxiety is less and I feel at peace to try new things to expand my cooking repertoire. 

Benefits

Cooking is physical. It gets you off the couch and challenges your mind and body. It is a fun and active way to bring closeness to those in your family. Once you are done chopping food, cooking, and cleaning, it can feel like a workout. Meal prep on Sundays is a great way from my family to bond, we plan our meals, grocery shop then cooks our meals together. 

Cooking at home is a benefit because you know exactly what you put in your food, how you cook the food and you can control the amounts of food you make. Eating healthy on a budget is doable at home. You don’t have to worry about the high costs of takeout. If you cook with seasonal ingredients, you will find them cheaper, fresher, and taste great. 

When you can control what you cook, you are promoting overall health and wellness for your body. You lower inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, promote a healthy weight, decrease your chances of heart disease and metabolic syndromes. When you cook at home, you also can control your blood sugar, lower your risk for obesity, and improve your quality of life. 

Recipe

One of my favorite recipes to cook on our griddle is fried rice. What better way to use day-old rice than to fry it up on the griddle with whatever veggies and protein we have leftover from the day before. 

My tips for making a good griddle fried rice. 

• Use day old, cold rice, so you don’t end up with mush
• Keep your ingredients close so you aren’t running around, 
• Use avocado oil to fry but keep a light hand, remember less is more
• Get your griddle HOT before adding any ingredients 

Ingredients:

4 Tbps Avocado Oil

1 Cup Protein of Choice

1 Cup Frozen Mixed Vegetables

4 Cups Day Old Jasmin Rice

5 Eggs

2 Tbsp Fish Sauce

1 Tsp Soy Sauce

1 Tbps Oyster Sauce

Dash of White Pepper

Salt and Peper to Taste

Directions:

1. Preheat griddle on high, add avocado oil
2. Add rice and sauces, fry for a few minutes until rice is lightly coated and brown
3. Push rice to one side
4. Add frozen veggies and cook lightly then push to another side of the griddle
5. Cook protein until cooked thoroughly
6. Crack eggs in a separate bowl, add to the griddle and lightly fry, breaking up the eggs
7. Incorporate eggs and veggies with the rice and protein.
8. Add salt and pepper to taste, and top with a dash of white paper
9. Enjoy

Cooking At Home During The Pandemic can be a fun experience for you and your family. Whether you cook inside or outside, pick creative ingredients, let the art of cooking “flow” and most importantly, have fun!