15.5 Benefits of Preparing Food
Preparing your own food can provide many benefits. Not only can it be a strategy for staying within your food budget, but also, when you prepare your own food, you get to exercise your preferences, freedom, values, and creative energy. You can choose which ingredients to use and where the food comes from, how the food is prepared, and how much to put on your plate, for example.
Many people enjoy how preparing food allows them an opportunity to disconnect from other things on their mind, be active in their body, and do something nourishing for their body. In addition, food preparation can be fun, particularly if done with friends, roommates, or family members. Making food preparation a social event can provide a great opportunity to try new foods and methods of food preparation. Consider picking out a recipe with friends, splitting up the ingredient list, and coming together to make the meal.
Student Perspectives: The Joy of Preparing Your Own Food
Resources
- The United States Department of Agriculture offers a fact sheet called Basics for Handling Food Safely.
Self-Assess Your Understanding
- Describe various benefits of preparing our own food.
