Cooking Tips for New Moms
There’s no denying that expectations for moms are sky-high these days.
Chalk it up to social media and the fact that every little detail of ours lives are under the microscope, right?
This unfortunately creates a huge sense of shame and embarrassment for moms who have no idea how to cook.
Hey, don’t sweat it: we’ve all been there. While you may be green with envy over moms posting their Pinterest-esque recipes all over Facebook, we all have to start from square one when it comes to our cooking skills.
And you know what? Getting started with cooking is a lot easier than it seems. At the end of the day, putting together a meal for your family comes down to knowing how to shop and following directions.
Seriously. It’s that simple.
If you’ve struggled with the idea of cooking, we’ve got three simple tips that can help you get over the mental hurdles associated with becoming a chef at home.
Remove the Stress from Grocery Shopping
If the idea of trekking through the store stresses you out, you’re definitely not alone.
The key to a successful grocery trip is knowing exactly what you need beforehand rather than allow yourself to get bogged down by deals and displays. After defining your budget and the ingredients necessary for your desired dishes, you should be able to get in and out without any stress.
That’s why services like Instacart are so popular for moms new to cooking. Not only do you avoid long lines at the store, but also receive only the items you want to keep your fridge properly stocked.
And by the way, the can redeem an Instacart promo code to save money on the service if you’ve never considered it before.
Start with Simple Meals
Don’t put the pressure on yourself to serve up five star fare. Those new to cooking should focus on simple meals that require minimal ingredients and likewise a sort of “prep and walk away†approach to cooking.
One of the best ways to ease into cooking is by taking advantage of a crockpot or slow cooker. For example, taking a look at some of the easiest slow cooker meals provides a glimpse into just how simple it is create awesome dishes with a bit of preparation and patience. From BBQ chicken to roast and veggies to homemade chilli, you can cook massive, family friendly meals that are really hard to screw up.
All you really need to do is understand what ingredients you need for your desired meal and follow the directions outlined on a recipe. Video tutorials on YouTube are incredibly helpful to understanding techniques when it comes to chopping and spicing your food, too.
Remember: Not Everything Needs to be Fresh
Here’s a tip: you aren’t going to score brownie points with your kids for including “fresh†ingredients. Not only can they probably not tell the difference, but consider how the difference between frozen and fresh veggies is minimal in terms of nutritional value.
There’s no shame in working within a budget when it comes to your ingredients. If you can only snag fresh meat for your meals, go for it: frozen side-dishes are totally fair game when you’re just getting started. Likewise, frozen and non-perishable ingredients (rice and pasta, for example) are awesome for cooking a variety meals and you don’t have to worry about them going bad.
Oh, and please don’t feel the need to splurge on fresh or premium “spices†when you can find them for dirt cheap on any given “world†aisle of your local grocery store.
While the idea of cooking might be totally daunting if you’ve never spent significant time in the kitchen, becoming the family chef is much easier than you think. By sticking to these tips, you can ease into the world of cooking sooner rather than later: you’ll be surprised at just how much you pick up in no time flat.
