‘Step Up To Dinner’

Inspiration for Creating Healthy Home-Cooked Food Every Day

By RUTH LAURENT-KOCHER | Contributing Writer

In the first installment of this series, we explored the problem: why the home-cooked meal is under attack and what this means for our health, relationships and environment.

This week we will start to look at “the solution” and why we may first need a shift in mindset to eat healthier dinners.

I am not a professional chef, but I do my best. Learning through trial and error and determination, educating myself on techniques and nutrition, I have found my way to a comfortable, happy place in the kitchen.

Luckily, we don’t have severe food allergies to contend with, but like everyone these days, I am busy and have less and less time to make dinner, but I keep it a priority in my life.

I get joy from being on top of it, hitting my budget and challenging myself to use everything in the fridge before the next shop. I revel in the opportunity to be creative and try new recipes, adaptations and food flavors.

I satisfy my latest craving (right now Moroccan food) or my family’s requests (this week, P.F. Chang’s style orange chicken), knowing that I am successfully feeding my family balanced, healthy, wholesome, home-cooked food.

Our world is overflowing with ideas, help and support. Recipes and cookbooks, guides and magazines, documentaries and blogs, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, and all sorts of other online resources.

We have access to everything we need—menu makers, calorie counters, diets, ingredient limiters, planning templates, shopping-list generators and grocery home delivery.

So, with all these resources, why do so many of us still struggle at 6 p.m. each day? Standing in the kitchen, looking longingly into the fridge and asking, “What am I going to make for dinner tonight?”

Mindset matters. First, we need to change our mindset, change our perspective, and know that we can do this, it will be fulfilling, and we will enjoy the process.

Just like anything else that we want to change or do in our lives, that we want to be successful at, we need to put in some focus and effort. We need to change the way we think about food.

Make food a priority. Someone in our household and family needs to make dinner a priority. Nutrition, exercise and sleep—we are so focused on exercise for our health; we are told we must make time for that and schedule it in our calendars, but what about food? (Which, I am convinced, but with no direct medical evidence, will help you sleep, but even if not, at least you can lay awake and not worry about what you are going to cook for dinner tomorrow.)

Let’s decide that from now on, we make everything we put in our mouths healthy and delicious, and make this a priority in our lives.

Get back to basics. Let’s get back to the days of simple home cooking, sitting at a table at dinnertime together with friends or family, and eating good, healthy, exceptional food. Let’s choose local, fresh, whole food, and begin to revel in the art and skill of planning a week of nutritious, tasty meals and enjoy all the benefits that start with that simple process.

Still indulge in a take-out now and again, and visit your favorite local restaurant for sure—but make the commitment to make most of your meals home cooked.

Be inspired. Get creative. For the people who really don’t enjoy cooking, turn it into your “me” time. Put on some music or your favorite show as you cook. Pour yourself a glass of wine or your favorite drink, and relax.

Finally, for those who do enjoy cooking, my approach will stop you from getting bored, reinvigorate you, get out of the recipe rut and make the art of planning a whole week of dinners your challenge, not just one perfect meal.

Make it the most positive part of the day with fresh, home-cooked, wholesome, tasty, fabulous food for you and your family.

The next installment of the “Step Up To Dinner” series will focus on “The Weekly Plan.” Palisadian Ruth Laurent-Kocher brings executive function to her personal passion for healthy home-cooked food in her first book, “Step Up To Dinner.” To arrange a group workshop, private consultation or purchase a copy of her “how-to” guide and cookbook, email ruth@uptotheplate.org or go to uptotheplate.org.