The Value of Scratch Cooking in Retirement
Suzie and I had a delicious meal last night – slow-roasted chicken, stacked on a bed of buttery Irish champ with a Bailey's Cream-infused peppercorn sauce, very tasty! Top-quality restaurant fare. But the thing was, I made it from scratch.
I've always, for as long as I can remember, had a passion for cooking. It's one of my favourite activities and brings me immense personal satisfaction seeing people enjoy the food I've created. Now that I am retired, I plan on cooking many more delicious meals. My wife Suzie is very happy about this!
As we age, and particularly in retirement, scratch cooking is something I believe we should concentrate more of our time and energy on. The benefits are numerous and deserve thinking about. Your health is arguably the most important asset you have in later years.
Scratch cooking gives you control over the ingredients you use, but critically it also gives you control of ingredients you don't want. You can easily reduce excess salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats often hidden in processed foods or restaurant meals. If you're managing conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, this is invaluable. You can focus on ingredients like fresh vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, fuelling your body with the best possible nutrition and potentially boosting your energy levels, making it easier to chase the grandkids around the park.
There's a large social aspect in cooking. It's a great excuse to invite friends to dinner with the added benefit of social interaction and pleasing company, and can become the glue that knits a loose collection of friends together into an enduring social circle beyond the dining table. In my case, it's led to organising holidays together and other fun activities, and although it goes against the grain of my article, it's also involved real restaurants other than Mark's kitchen.
But thinking about restaurants and other similar meal options like takeaway, have you ever considered the costs involved with making those your go-to options at mealtimes rather than a special treat? My favourite is an Indian takeaway, and I enjoy it on occasion. But even when I'm chomping my way down a spicy curry, maybe a cold beer beside me, I'm normally thinking about the cold hard cash I had to hand over for my dinner. I know I could make something very similar for a fifth of the price and enjoy the cooking process into the bargain.
I know it's not for everyone, but giving scratch cooking a try could be a triple whammy for your health, social wellbeing, and a silent partner working with you in the ongoing battle against rising costs and the pressure on our wallets.
On a closing note I would like to give a big thank you to the most valued partner in my creative cooking journey. Dishwasher I thank you most sincerely!
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