I don't know how to cook!

In the beginning, I learned how to stir fry/sautee just about anything. Best thing I ever did. I can open up most cupboards and fridges in most people's houses and whip up a rice or noodle stir fry in 20 minutes. Going easy on the rice/noodles/sauce and heavy on the fresh vegies makes it a really healthy way to go.

I learned the basics of stir fry cooking by first buying those frozen stir fry kits (and only using half the sauce they provide). Once you get the gist of it, you can find sauce recipes online and experiment with fresh and frozen vegies, as well as adding things like nuts and fruit, tofu, meat... endless combinations.

I just recently started cooking. I just look for recipes online that look easy or I have tons of cookbooks (people have been trying to get me to cook for years ) so I look through those for things that look good and easy. I love casseroles. Put everything in one dish and bake. Sometimes I'll look at things I have in the kitchen and then type the items in Google search and see what recipe comes up.

If I can figure out how to cook anyone can. I couldn't cook anything until about 6 months ago and now I cook 90% of my families meals.

"If you can read, you can cook," as my mom used to say. There are tons of super cookbooks for the novice cook - pick one up that speaks to you, and start to play.

Nowadays, however, if you have an internet connection, you can cook. Find something you are interested in making, and then YouTube. Google, or whatever search engine for recipes, video demos, and guides.

Cooking is about paying attention to processes and flavours. You will make mistakes, and some of them will be delicious.

Best of luck!

I've only just started to actually cook, in the last couple of years. I need a recipe or things tend to go awry, but if you can find something that looks easy, you can do it! kraft.com and foodnetwork.com have a lot of really easy recipes. You have to look around a little for the healthier ones, but they're definitely doable.

buy a crockpot! easiest cooking ever and you can find a ton of low calorie recipes online

I agree, stir fry is good and easy. You don't need a fancy wok just any larger nonstick pan will do. Cook meat first, set aside then stir fry the veggies till done to your liking at meat and sauce.

Chicken--seasoned and lightly coated with Italian seasoned bread crumbs, pan fry, about 5-7 minutes a side for a piece about 1/2inch thick, set aside. Mix up a bowl of fresh greens and veggies you like. Slice chicken, voila you have a tasty salad. I make this ahead of time and take to work for lunch.

If you're able, invest in some spices. Some basics with help add flavor without needed the added fat from butter, cheese etc. Good options, garlic powder(not salt), an Italian blend, a seasoned salt like lowerys. There are a ton of spice mixes, right now I'm in love with a Greek mixture. It's fabulous on chicken and veggies. If you have a local spice shop like Penseys go there, they can help a lot.

Healthy snacks: Dannon light and fit greek yogurt and Yoplait has a good light greek too add granola.........nummy.
String cheese, nuts, hard boiled eggs.

Good luck!

I don't cook often as cooking for 1 is not much fun. But as long as you can steam veg, not being able to cook is not an excuse to eat out all the time.

By pre-cooked meat that has not been reconstituted (my favourite is roasted chicken from the deli) and then eat steamed vegetables, fruit, salads, nuts and pre-cooked fish. That's a healthy diet right there.

You can tell if a precooked meat is good for you in two ways. One: the number of ingredients (fewer is better) and Two: the fat % (lower is better).

Also be wary of anything with a far off expiry date or anything tinned as it has no doubt been modified to make it last longer.

Hubby bought himself a book called "How to Cook Everything" a number of years ago and has learned to cook a lot out of it. It's also useful if you don't know what cooking terms mean. For example, he was really puzzled by an online recipe that called for "folding" in an ingredient. I knew what it was and showed him and when he didn't believe me that "folding" was a real term, he looked it up in his book. Sure enough it was there.

In addition to simple recipes, it has ways to advance a recipe into a more complicated version or how to substitute ingredients if you are missing something.

He really liked all the information about cuts of meat and how to do various techniques. Like what does it mean to "braise" or "fold" or how does one "julienne" a veggie and why does it matter.

So uh... In the past 64 days I've lost ~17lbs... by (1) exercising my *kitten* off, and (2) changing my eating habits.

As far as (2) is concerned, I didn't used to cook hardly at all. I subsisted on cereal, frozen burritos ("EVOL" organic chicken burritos), Indian hot pockets (Paneer tikka), and crap like that...

I have been cooking for the past two weeks and it's really not that hard... I prefer chicken and seafood for my protein, and it takes me 10-15 minutes to do a chicken breast in a pan on the stove in olive oil with rosemary... in the mean time, I might have some pasta boiling as well... 15-20 minutes = dinner's done. On a third burner you could easily have some vegetables going... or just do chicken + vegetables and skip the pasta unless you need the carbs...

Sure I've cooked before, but I thought I'd look online for some ideas... Found a great and easy way to cook chicken breasts: very lightly floured, heat on high, cook for one minute, then flip and set heat to low for 10 minutes covered... BAM, chicken breast in olive oil... beautiful...


It's like anything... practice and you'll get better. You'd have to be pretty inept to not be able to become somewhat proficient... It just takes practice, having a feel for your cooking surface (gas, electric, inductive, etc.), and having some ideas as to what you'd like to eat and how you'd like to prepare it.


I'm sure you can do it!! :-) :-)


As far as WHAT to eat to lose weight? It's not so much about "what"... it's about how much... YES it's about "what", but I feel like if you create a reasonable calorie deficit and still eat "crappily" you'll still lose weight...

IDEALLY you will factor in WHAT and HOW MUCH to your diet, right? As someone mentioned earlier, CALORIE DEFICIT is important if you want to lose weight... and of course eating decent food is important regardless...

Chicken and seafood are a BREEZE to cook (tilapia, salmon, shrimp, etc.)... Breeze = fast, and hard to *kitten* it up. Vegetables can be easy if you buy them pre-packaged (e.g. corn, peas, beans, etc. in a bag from the freezer) and they can be had "organic" as well if you care... Easy to boil, or even microwave... Pasta is super easy to cook as well. Personally I think rice is very easy to cook also, but most people I've met do not agree... It takes practice and a little "feel"...

Anyway... give things a try... you never know until you try... I'm sure you can do it :-). And you have us at MFP for ideas, motivation, inspiration, etc.

Happy cooking :-)

bump

Get a George Foreman grill. Works great on boneless/skinless chicken breasts, steak, lean boneless pork chops, turkey burgers, tilapia, salmon etc etc etc. There is a variety of Mrs. Dash seasoning (no salt so it's better than just salt and pepper) for just about any kind of meat. Frozen veggies can be heated in the microwave.

George Formans are AMAZINGLY helpful! I use it all the time!

If you can read and follow directions, you can cook.

Using the stir-fry, slow cooker/crockpot techniques are usually the easiest when starting out!

I usually go on Pinterest to get some new recipes (and go for the ones with step by step instructions). I LOVE cooking so I have a plethora of recipes if you need some. Most of the recipes you find on Pinterest are pretty simple, which may help!

Good luck and add me if you ever need any ideas or tips! :drinker:

bump...i can't cook either