Written by: Emily Christine Schield, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Everyone has experienced that sinking feeling of opening the refrigerator only to find no actual food to eat. There may be some random condiments, vegetables that have wilted and are no longer edible, and overall not much substance to make a filling meal. Combine that with being hungry and you have yourself in a frustrating situation! It’s a good thing this problem has a solution and it has everything to do with getting back into a meal planning routine, creating meals you love, and cooking in a kitchen that actually inspires you.
Since we all need to eat, we might as well learn how to enjoy the food experience in a kitchen space that is fun to create meals in. Use these simple tips to change your perspective and go from stressed and overwhelmed to calm, relaxed, and even excited.
Here are 6 tips to help you become motivated to cook and reconnect back to your kitchen:
Carve out 20 minutes every week deciding on the recipes you will be making.
Whether you enjoy looking up recipes on Pinterest, Instagram, Google, or in a good old- fashion cookbook, spending merely 20 minutes every week organizing your meal ideas will give you clarity in what you will be eating. It also gives you an opportunity to check in with what you are craving and what vegetables are in season. Additionally, when you choose meals that sound appetizing, perk the interest of your taste buds and visually inspire you, you will be much more motivated to spend time creating your meals. Getting to the end result of eating that hearty bowl of carrot ginger soup with a side of steaming hot buttered sourdough bread will leave you feeling grateful you planned!
Decide what day you will be going grocery shopping, picking up food at your local farmer’s market or if you will be ordering groceries online
Instead of going back and forth to the store throughout the week, when you know what recipes you will be making, you know exactly what ingredients need to be bought. This makes for hassle-free and organized meal planning.
Clean out your refrigerator and toss out any expired food or condiments
It is so easy to jam pack the refrigerator and have food get pushed to the back or hidden in a crisper drawer. Before restocking with new groceries, it’s helpful to know if anything needs to get tossed, composted, or eaten up. Then do a quick wipe down of any spills or sticky spots to ensure fresh food is getting stored in a clean space.
Clear off the kitchen counter and remove excess clutter
Since our brain can focus better with less stimulation, it’s very helpful to start prepping your meals on a clean counter space with very minimal décor (no lingering mail or magazines and no dirty dishes). Creating your food experience begins with the energy you feel when prepping meals so having a clean, clutter-free space will help you not only focus but enjoy the prepping process more.
Create a “happy space” section in your kitchen
Oftentimes, people don’t want to be in their kitchen cooking because the space doesn’t make them feel especially happy. I’ve found that creating a section known as a “happy space” will help draw you back to being in the kitchen. This could be a simple sign, candle, fresh flowers, or a plant you have in the corner that you enjoy visually looking at. The scene makes you feel happy, connected, and joyful. It’s sometimes the little spaces and the essence of nature that can reignite inspiration and happiness to be in the kitchen.
Turn on music and light a candle when prepping meals
Eating and cooking meals at home doesn’t need to be boring, chaotic, or stressful. Take a deep breath, turn on some soothing music (coffeeshop music is a great playlist to melt into), and light a candle. This helps to get your mind in a place to relax, calm down your nervous system and let go of any thoughts that tell you to meal prepping is a time-consuming chore. You may just spend a little more time in the kitchen than you think when you enjoy the atmosphere! Plus, opening the refrigerator to delicious leftovers is something that never gets old.
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Emily Christine Schield, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Emily Schield is a holistic health and nutrition coach specializing in whole-food eating. After a decade-long battle with cystic acne and gut issues, she found healing in eating real food and set out on a journey to continue to improve her eating habits by attaining a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Culinary Arts from Bastyr University. She is passionate about cultivating a healthy lifestyle and helping women understand how important their mindset is in creating the health they desire. Emily enjoys teaching practical and fun culinary techniques to inspire women to reconnect back to their kitchen, local food, and ultimately themselves. She believes everyone is capable of creating a healthy body and healing is possible when given the right guidance and taking aligned action.
