Make Cooking Fun!

Here's How To Make Cooking More Fun...

Do you have a hard time getting excited about cooking? Have you often wished there was something you could do to make cooking just a little bit more fun? I am here to help!

I know that sometimes I don't find cooking to be all that fun, especially when I have a particularly busy day balancing family and professional responsibilities, cooking is just one more thing to add to the list! I can get into a rut just like everyone else. 

This is why I have listed my best fun cooking tips here... when we need it, we will be able to refer to this list and hopefully that will make cooking that much more enjoyable! I've also included a delicious, quick recipe at the end of the post, so keep reading. 

#1: Check Out New Recipes

Sometimes just seeing beautiful food photos and reading recipes can spark some inspiration and fun in your kitchen.

We can head to our local bookstores. We can also look up our favourite nutritionists, chefs, bakers, and other online foodies. Simply doing a quick search on Google or Pinterest can offer thousands of fresh, new ideas.

​Summer also brings lots of fresh produce and markets with it. Make an effort to buy tasty, fresh and inspiring ingredients. When you look in your fridge it will seem like these delicious ingredients are just waiting to be eaten!

Pro Tip: Searching through recipes can be so fun and inspiring, and can also end up taking waaaay longer than planned. So, consider setting a timer when browsing. The last thing we want is to spend so much time looking, that we don’t leave enough time for cooking.

#2: Make Grocery Shopping Fun & Inspiring

When at the grocery store, it's a great idea to try things that we haven't bought in a while. Is there a seasonal fruit or vegetable you haven’t had for months? What about a childhood favourite? Did you come across something totally delicious at a restaurant or get-together lately? 

We can also try browsing around the store, looking for something we haven't tried before; something that is completely new to us. Be adventurous and have fun. Then we can refer to tip #1 to find new and inspiring recipes when we get home!
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#3: Keep It Simple

​Sometimes when I see a great food picture, I immediately get inspired to make it. But if I look at the ingredients or instructions and they're too long or they look complicated I get overwhelmed.  While there are times when I'm inspired and dive into a new great recipe, when I'm not all that inspired, I try to keep things simple.

A few ways to keep things simple are to:

• Search for recipes with 10 or fewer ingredients, and five or fewer instructions.
• Search for recipes that can be made in one pot or pan.
• Buy ingredients that are ready to cook with (pre-washed salad greens, diced squashes, frozen vegetables, etc.)​

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#4: Put On Some Music & Invite Guests

Do you have kids that need to learn the critical life skill of cooking? It can be so much fun to bring kids into the kitchen, they can help with washing veggies, chopping, mixing, setting the table and clean up. Perhaps your partner would love to join you? What about having a cooking party where everyone brings something and pitches in on the process?

Cooking does not have to be solitary. It can be very social as well as a great opportunity for bonding. For example, a great way to feel inspired to cook on regular weekend evenings is to invite guests over and make a night out of it! When you are cooking alone, playing music or listening to podcasts and the radio can be great ways to enjoy yourself.

Pro Tip: Hosting pot lucks can be a great way to get inspired with new recipes and make cooking more social. 
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#5: Invest In Some Kitchen Swag

Having proper kitchen tools makes cooking so much easier, faster and more enjoyable. When's the last time you sharpened your knife? Or bought yourself a new one? Could dicing carrots with a dull knife be draining the fun from cooking? Or is blending a smoothie with a crummy blender, leaving it too chunky to enjoy, making you feel less excited to try new smoothie recipes? I know it does for me.

Sometimes buying a new appliance or kitchen tool can make cooking a lot more exciting. It doesn't have to be anything too fancy or expensive, just think of something you will make use of in your day to day life. 

For example, one of my all-time favourite kitchen tool is my spiralizer. It helps make veggies interesting and fun! I love to spiralize zucchini, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, beets and apples. 

Pro Tip: Zucchini noodles are a great swap for noodles. They really help lower the carb count of recipes to help keep blood sugar levels balanced. Try this next time you're craving pasta!
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Recipe Time!

We all know that cooking is key to healthy eating. And, yes, it can get boring from time to time. However, there are things we can do to avoid this as much as possible!

Try one, or all, of these fun cooking tips to inspire you to get over to your kitchen and cook yourself, your family or your friends some great dishes. While you're at it, check out the delicious, easy and fun recipe below. 

You already know your health will thank you!
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Recipe: One Skillet Frittata

Recipe (Simple and Fun): One Skillet Frittata

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 8 eggs
• 1/4 cup almond milk, unsweetened 
• 1 tsp olive oil, extra virgin
• 1 clove of garlic, minced 
• 1 handful baby spinach
• 1 small zucchini, sliced into thin coins
• 1 clove of garlic, minced 
• 1 handful cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 dash herbs and spices to taste (parsley, sage, paprika, turmeric, etc.)
• 1 dash salt and pepper 

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375F.
• Whisk together eggs and almond milk.
• Heat an ovenproof skillet (e.g. cast iron) on the stove with the olive oil.
• Add garlic, spinach and zucchini to the hot skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the spinach wilts and the zucchini starts to soften. 
• Add the tomatoes, herbs, spices, salt and pepper. 
• Pour in the eggs.
• Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, until the eggs are set.
• Serve & enjoy!

Pro Tip: Feel free to substitute your veggies and use what you have on hand. Try diced pepper instead of tomatoes, or chopped kale instead of spinach. Have fun with this!
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Simple Wins:

"I have really focused on no sugar & watching my simple carb intake. Incorporate some form of exercise most days. The weight finally shifted. I am down 10 lbs & came home from camping with the family a pound lighter. First time not regressing!"

-Simple Swaps Member Barbara

Helping Your Meals Be Easy & Fun!

One of the best steps we can take in order to make cooking enjoyable is to make it as easy and efficient as possible. That is where effective meal planning and preparation come in...

I have something to help you start doing just that! I created the Simple Swaps Guide to Meal Planning & Prepping to help give you some simple tips and tricks. This guide was created to offer my best suggestions to help you make small changes that will have a big impact on overall health.

Click on the button below to access this free guide. 

Send Me My Free Meal Plan & Prep Guide!