Ditch the self doubt - how to build confidence in the kitchen
Anyone can make a last-minute healthy dinner that tastes good.
That's a bold statement, but we believe it's true.
Whether your goal is to save money, support health, or take back some time, your mindset is the only obstacle to creating something delicious fast.
It's time to ditch the self-doubt and build your confidence in the kitchen.
Why the culinary doubt?
There are a variety of reasons people feel unsure about cooking. They may lack experience in the kitchen or have never really learned the basics. It could be that someone else in the family has more experience and sets a high standard. It may even be that they don't enjoy cooking and are out of practice. Sometimes it was a recipe that backfired spectacularly and left seeds of doubt to grow when other meals didn't turn out just right.
Whatever your reason, you don't have to live with the doubt.
How to build your confidence
Once you've identified where your self-doubt around cooking is coming from, you can gradually put it in its place and build your kitchen confidence.
Be prepared - A well-stocked kitchen is one of your best strategies for squashing the doubt and feeling more confident. Various staple foods in the fridge, pantry and freezer can pull the plug on overwhelm before it starts. Whatever the day has thrown at you, knowing that you have options waiting to help you whip up a last-minute dinner takes one less worry off your plate.
Embrace your cooking style - One of the most frustrating and self-defeating things we can do in the kitchen is cooking like someone else. Whether you're a Quick Fix Queen, Homemade Hustler or Gourmet Goddess, whether you live to prep and meal plan every week or prefer to wing it at 5 pm, go with YOUR cooking style.
Keep a cheat sheet - Our brains are overloaded enough as it is. Create a cheat sheet you can easily reference (on your phone, fridge or anywhere close at hand) while you're pulling dinner together. This cheat sheet can include favorite recipe ideas, favorite flavor combinations, winning techniques, and other helpful notes.
Celebrate your wins - This is for everything in life, but definitely in the kitchen. Did everybody enjoy the Power Bowl you threw together tonight? Celebrate. Did you try a new 1-2-3 and done recipe? Celebrate. Something didn't turn out how you expected? Celebrate because there are even wins in learning and doing.
Focus on the basics - Dinner doesn't have to be all organic, whole food, made-from-scratch gourmet. In this all-or-nothing world, it's easy to fall into the "perfect meal" trap. Start with one dinner, one extra veggie, one new ingredient, or one new recipe. Go from there. Feel good about where you are and where you're going (Celebrate).
Ready to start building your confidence in the kitchen? Quick and easy recipes like these using our 3-step formula and kitchen staples are a great way to jump in:
