It’s true that there is no place like home. Similarly, no matter how much your kids might love junk food and eat out, the benefits of home-cooked meals cannot be replaced. Here’s why home-cooked meals are so beneficial:
1.Saves money
Whether you are eating at a restaurant or buying processed food, it is always more expensive than making your food at home and eating that. Restaurants charge you not only for the food but also for the cost required to run their business. The same is for frozen meals. You end up saving money while controlling the cost and take better control of your budget by cooking at home.
2.Healthier ingredients
Commercially prepared food has saturated fat or they are high in salt or sugar. But with home cooked meals, all ingredients are known to the cook and you can control what you want to put in and what you do not. You can make the same type of food like you eat outside, just healthier. Making French Fries at home is easier and requires lesser ingredients than the McDonald’s fries. Instead of making usual meals, try making KFC chicken at home and let your kids try out the same fast food they like, with a homely touch. With home cooking you may experiment with healthier ingredients to preserve maximum food nutrition in your diet. It will also be a fun filled togetherness of family members getting involved in healthy food and nutrition choices.
3.Avoid food allergies and sensitivities
The biggest worries parents have about their kids is that they should not eat something they are allergic to. You would always be looking at the ingredients of packed food to see signs of peanut or lactose. Even in restaurants, you’ll have to especially ask what is to be avoided for allergies. But even then there is a risk. With food prepared at home, you can reduce the risk of sensitive allergic reaction because you know best what not to use.
4.Portion control
Restaurants serve food according to their standard offering. Chances are that it will always be more or less than what your kids want. But if the food is in front of them, they will eat it. If it is lesser than what they want, you are sure to expect a temper tantrum later on about being hungry again. And if the portion is larger, they might eat too much and get themselves a stomach ache, or they will waste half the food and that is money out of your pocket going down the drain.
With home cooked meals, you can regulate the portions of food served and can always refrigerate leftovers.
5.Brings family together
Eating at home together can bring a family closer to each other as this is the time of the day when everyone can talk about how their day went and also get involved in family engaging activities. You can even involve your kid in food preparation or serving to have a better and healthier environment that they feel comfortable in. It will be a help to you and will also keep them disciplined.