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Whensocial distancingfirst started last month, no one wanted to hear about kitchen hacks.
Woman cutting fruit in the kitchen
My feed was taken over by photos of sourdough starters and whipped coffee.
Initially, I was totally on board, making elaboratebreads, sauces, stews, and cakes.
I started my windowsill garden, cleaned out closets, and did a bunch of online courses.
It felt like I went from one extreme to the other in a matter of weeks.
You may find peace in doing the most or doing absolutely nothing at all.
Ive experienced both, and lately have been feeling very burned out by daily life.
Recently the answer has been no.
The goal is to nourish yourself, and that may or may not involve experiencing pleasure through foodright now.
Doing some minimal planning can help facilitate this process and cut down on supermarket runs.
Make a list of what ingredients youll need, and aim for foods that have a longer shelf life.
That way you’re free to stock up knowing that stuff will last.
Once you get your food home, give a shot to get as much prep done as possible.
Chop your onions, garlic, and vegetables and store them in airtight containers.
Cook batches of staple foods for the week.
Boil your eggs in advance so you’re able to easily add them to meals.
Rinse and drain canned beans.
Squeeze lemons and limes and store them in an airtight jar…. Get my drift?
Anything you could do in advance, do in that one day.
Swap food with neighbors
Something Ive been doing lately is taking turns cooking with my neighbor.
Maybe get to know one another and set it up via text.
Buy pre-made meals
Lets talk about mental health for a sec.
Spending any time cooking right now may not be doable because you just…cant.
For those of you thinking, Wait, but isnt pre-made or frozen food less healthy?
Maybe yes, maybe no.
Health goes beyond nutrition, and even beyond food, and its important to factor in your mental health.
Also, if youre able to afford it, there are a variety ofmeal kitsthat make cooking way easier.
you could also signthis lettermaking specific requests of Congress to ensure independent restaurants will survive the COVID-19 crisis.
If you decide to do takeout or delivery, c’mon remember to tip your delivery person generously.
And be sure to choose contactless drop-off, and wash your hands after handling takeout containers and before eating.
I hope this has been helpful for those of you who are struggling to eat!
Just this week, I felt the cooking inspiration coming back to me.
Who knows how long that may last, though?
So lets take it day by day.
