How often do you cook at home versus order takeout? Cooking at home can be a simple way to improve your health and save money. Contrary to eating at restaurants, cooking at home gives you control over the ingredients used and portions served. Aim to make more meals at home with these 3 tips!

Stock your pantry. Take a quick inventory of your pantry. Do you have foods that are nourishing and satisfying? Stock your pantry with these basic ingredients to start:

• Grains. Whole grains provide an array of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Try brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, rolled oats, whole-wheat pasta, and/or multi-grain crackers.

• Beans/Legumes. For inexpensive plant-based protein, try black beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc.

• Nuts, Seeds, and Butters.  Unsalted nuts provide healthy fats and protein. Try almonds, almond butter, peanuts, peanut butter, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, etc.

Utilize basic cooking skills. Do you lack confidence in your cooking skills? Start by improving a few basic cooking skills, such as:

• Properly chopping vegetables

• Making simple salads and dressings

• Cooking healthy proteins like chicken, tofu, or fish

• Preparing basic grains like oatmeal and pasta

A fun place to explore free cooking demonstrations is YouTube. Watch chefs from the test kitchens of Food 52 or Bon Appetit for cooking demonstrations and recipe inspiration! This will help you feel more confident in the kitchen.

Make enough for leftovers. Once you start cooking, make enough to have leftovers. We like to call this the “Cook Once, Eat Twice” method. Spruce up leftovers by adding some variation. For example, toss leftover stir-fry into a tortilla for a delicious wrap. Transform leftover chicken into shredded chicken tacos or cut into strips for a salad topping. Any leftover veggies can be used in an omelet the next day!  With these variations you will never get tired of leftovers again.