Today, 72 per­cent of Americans in the United States are unable to cook a legitimate meal (Huffington Post). This means that only 28 percent of Americans can ac­tually cook, which essentially conveys that 72 percent are not willing to ac­tively nourish their bodies, are just too lazy to even do so, or do not know how to cook at all According to a recent article by CNN, there are several main reasons why people should cook their own meals.

Firstly, it is better to learn how to cook your own meal because it will lead to bet­ter decision-making regarding the food you eat. Picking and choosing your own food will allow you to know exactly what ingre­dients make up a meal, and eventually create a positive habit of decreasing the amount of processed foods you would normally eat. Not only will this cut down the number of calories one consumes, but also will reflect a healthier outlook, and therefore healthier eat­ing habits. According to a study conducted by the Public Health Nutrition journal, people who eat and cook meals at home for a week consume fewer calories than those who eat takeout throughout the week. Such research underscores the fact that one should avoid the “guessing game” of not entirely know­ing what restaurants add to a meal. Too of­ten restaurants cater to satisfy the customer, which is ideal in more ways than one, but detrimental to the health of consumers if such satisfaction comes in the form of great taste that costs a wholesome, healthy meal.

Moreover, cooking is a great hands-on activity that people of all ages will be able to enjoy. Through such an engaging process of picking fresh ingredients, cutting vegetables, and pan-frying everything together right in the comfort of one’s own kitchen, relation­ships between friends and family can im­prove. You can not only create food to your own liking, but also thoroughly enjoy the re­sults of a wholesome home cooked meal with loved ones. Because you are your own judge of your food, there will be no need to pick out your least favorite vegetables or anything anymore!