For a number of reasons, reaching for my phone and opting for takeout isn’t a solution. So, I decided it was time to make some changes and pull myself up out of it.
For anyone who’s ever been there, you’re not alone! Whether you’re new to cooking and find it daunting or a seasoned home chef in search of simplicity, I thought I’d share some ways I’ve made mealtime more manageable, which I hope will spark some ideas for you.
Embracing a repertoire of everyday favourites
I used to make elaborate meals — risotto, pho — and nobody gave a care. Did it hurt my feelings when they requested my homemade pizza or pasta sauce instead? No, because I realized those are the things that I just cook really well and I took it as a compliment. Everyone I make them for knows exactly what to expect from these dishes — including me.
So I give the people what they want, no fuss, no stress. It’s kind of like having a menu I can order or take requests from.
If you’re new to the kitchen and yet to develop a repertoire, it could help to write out a list of recipes you’d like to learn and master. Stick with your favourites. Find some simple ones you can see yourself making when your schedule is full.
If you’re experienced and find your menu too vast, narrow it down to a list of favourites for a little while and see if that helps.
Save any elaborate dishes for special occasions or enjoy them on low-stress days when you don’t have a lot on the go. Seriously, not every meal needs to be Insta-worthy!
Daily specials (this is the one that helped me the most)
I’m not pitching the idea that you stick with this indefinitely. But if you find yourself in a kitchen rut and part of that comes with decision fatigue— choosing what to make—let the days of the week decide for you. Even if it’s just for a month. I think this was the key to getting me out of my latest funk. Pulling from my repertoire, I made a list, assigning meals to days of the week.
If you asked me a couple of years ago, I’d tell you the method is uninspired. But here I am embracing Taco Monday, Pizza Tuesday, and so on because I know exactly what to budget for, buy, and prepare. I still have room for getting a bit creative with toppings, or not. And I can swap meals in and out as I so choose.
To make things even less stressful, I often cook enough of each dinner for lunch leftovers or stick some extra in the freezer for a quick meal another time.
Printed recipes
I get easily distracted if I pick up my phone in the kitchen. Even when I’m on a recipe page, all the pop-ups and ads make it hard to focus.
Print your favourites. Make a cookbook. You will be so happy you did.
If you don’t own a printer, check out your local library or ask a friend. Something about handwritten recipes is charming as well — I’ve done it in a pinch, but only with the tried and true.
Also, a few notes on finding new recipes:
- Find some trusted sites/authors who know their stuff
- Search for recipes well before you need to cook
- Read the ingredients and directions thoroughly before deciding it’s the one
I know everyone and their dog tells you to reduce your screen time, but on top of printing my recipes, I find keeping my phone just out of reach helpful because I get more done and make fewer silly mistakes. I’d rather be present in my kitchen working on another task when a timer goes off than in the midst of trying to cram in a text, email, or some “downtime.”
I used to be so bad for that — like my cooking was distracting me from my phone. When I removed it from the equation, a tremendous amount of frustration went with it.
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So there you have it. A few small actions I took to help me with kitchen overwhelm — and they actually worked. I have a repertoire of go-to meals I don’t stray far from unless I’ve got the time and energy to be adventurous. I’ve used them to narrow things down and let the days of the week take the decision fatigue out of cooking. Additionally, keeping a book of recipes on hand helps me stay present in the kitchen—that one I’ve been doing a lot longer than the others, but it made a huge impact.
What are some things that help you reduce kitchen overwhelm?