Do you remember the movie “The Incredibles?”

Our kids loved this movie growing up.

We always had entertaining discussions about what our superpower would be.  Superhuman strength, making yourself invisible, superhuman speed, the ability to defy gravity, elasticity, the ability to pass through solid objects.  We had so much fun talking about all the things we could do if we possessed those superpowers!

 

While we may only be able to dream of those kinds of superpowers, there is one superpower we can all possess.  Cooking at home!

Yes, cooking at home!

Why is this a superpower?

If you go back a couple of generations, preparing meals at home was as much a part of life as eating.  Today, in our age of convenience, where food can be delivered to your doorstep with a few taps on your phone, cooking is often viewed as optional – maybe even a chore.  But the truth is, cooking is far more than just a way to feed yourself.  It’s a superpower that transforms your relationship with food, health, and family.

Leaving a legacy

If you reflect on what has happened over the past 50 years, there has been a shift away from cooking meals at home using fresh ingredients.  Almost 60% of food spending is now for “food away from home.”  This doesn’t even include prepared foods that we buy from the grocery store.  As a culture, the ability and confidence to cook meals at home has significantly diminished.  This also means we are no longer teaching the next generation how to prepare delicious meals in the kitchen.

What we (our society in general) have mastered – and are teaching our kids and grandkids – is how to order takeout and pizza on our phones, how to navigate the drive through, and how to pick up prepared meals at the supermarket.  Without some kind of intervention, this trend will continue.

What can reverse this trend?

Superheroes like you!  If you embrace your superpower, you can help the next generation (heck, the next several generations) build their own cooking at home superpowers.  Shopping for fresh ingredients.  Buying food at a farmers’ market.  Turning those ingredients into simple, delicious meals.  Your superpower can empower your kids, grandkids (and yourself) to take control over what you are eating, to enjoy delicious and nutritious meals, and to achieve the best health possible.

We just heard a story from a couple who took their kids to the farmers’ market once a month from the time they were age 5 until they graduated high school.  Just once a month!  The kids are now on their own and guess what?  They routinely shop at the farmers’ market and have the confidence and desire to prepare meals at home.  They even ask their parents to meet them at the market and they get together on Sundays to share the foods they prepared with the ingredients they picked up the day before.  What a great legacy to leave!

Powering up your health

We know we sound like a broken record because we have written exhaustively about how and why all the ultra-processed foods contribute to various illnesses and disease.  When you outsource the meal preparation to others (such as restaurants and supermarkets), there are long lists of ingredients that go into your meals that don’t do your health any favors.  The ingredients and many preparations promote inflammation and, honestly, play havoc with your gut health.  Of course, we know there are restaurants that put care and thought into their ingredients and preparations, and we should do whatever we can to support them.  Unfortunately, the reality is these types of restaurants are still the exception.

When you use your cooking superpower, you are the gatekeeper of the ingredients that go into your food.  This allows you to avoid excessive sugar and salt, processed additives and preservatives, highly refined cooking oils, and more.  By using wholesome, fresh ingredients, you can prepare meals that are rich in nutrients and easily tailored to your dietary needs.  As we have seen time and time again, focusing on REAL ingredients will help you achieve your best health possible and help manage (even reverse) whatever health issues you may be dealing with.

Flavor, Flavor, Flavor!

Imagine someone telling you, “You’ve killed it for me for going out to eat.  After eating your meals (or making your recipes), I am always disappointed when I go out to eat because I could have done better at home – and saved some money too.”  If you unleash your superpower, you are likely to hear this.  We hear it all the time.

Just last weekend while cooking for family members, a cousin said, “I notice when you cook you add A LOT of spices.  I never would have thought to add that many spices, but it really makes the flavor pop!”   When making meals at home, you can amp up the spices and seasonings to create flavors that blow away any perceptions of “healthy foods are so bland.”  POW!  Your superpower at work again!  Plus, it’s so fun to incorporate experiences, culture and tradition into your meals.  We love recreating amazing meals from our travels that allow us to relive those memories – like the Montana Inspired Beet Salad that is LOADED with flavor and takes us back to beautiful patio where we enjoyed a meal in Whitefish, Montana.

Family Time

Mealtime is the perfect excuse to get together and spend time with people.  Consider using your superpower to bring this family dynamic back to the table!  And it’s not just eating together.  Getting everyone involved in preparing the meal creates great memories and helps build the legacy — the kitchen is an excellent place to demonstrate how to experiment and use your creativity!

In many cultures, cooking is seen as an act of love.  By preparing a meal for someone, you’re showing care and thoughtfulness.  If you struggle expressing your love for someone with words, cooking is a fantastic alternative!

Stress Reliever

Do you feel like preparing meals adds stress to your day?  Though it may seem counterintuitive, cooking can actually be very relaxing.  Chopping vegetables, preparing sauces, and even making salads can help you slow down and focus on the moment.  In our fast-paced world, the kitchen can be a place where you can disconnect from distractions and enjoy the simple, hands-on process of making a delicious meal.

Cooking allows you to use all of your other superpowers like sight, smell, taste, touch, and even sound.  We love turning on whatever music we are in the mood for while we prepare our meals.  The key is to make time to prepare your meals – and maybe even do some prep ahead of time for those days when time is short.  Like any superpower, cooking gets easier – and more enjoyable – the more you do it!

And we all know the struggle of planning “What’s for dinner?”.  We want to help you transform the dread of meal planning into excitement with delicious ideas, which is why we provide weekly meal ideas to keep new and in-season ideas in front of you to keep the planning stress-free!

Unleash Your Superpower Every Day!

In “The Incredibles,” the kids are told to only use their superpowers in case of an emergency.  Obviously, you should ignore this advice when it comes to using your cooking superpower.  Don’t reserve it only for special days like Thanksgiving or Christmas or birthdays.

Unleash your superpower EVERY SINGLE DAY!

And be proud of it!

This superpower dramatically changed our lives, and we know it can change yours too!  If you already have this superpower, look for more opportunities to use it for the good of others – and the good of our society!