Burned Out By Cooking? Easy Steps I Take To Fall In Love Again
“What’s for dinner?” got you down? THIS will change that …
Anything that requires our daily attention can get a little mundane over time.
And, ohhhh, does cooking fall into that category.
I think we’re all facing burnout in many areas of our life. But sometimes cooking moves up in positioning and becomes the number one thing we dread.
I remember that feeling very distinctly years ago as I threw another chicken breast in a pan, dumped a box of noodles into a pot, and set the table for one more average meal. I also had the issue of having to create something separate for my vegetarian daughter – usually a “plant-based chicken” I’d found in my local market. (When I honored her decision to be vegetarian at the tender age of three, creating dinner each night became an even bigger chore. It usually ended with me making my standard chicken breast, vegetarian chicken, boxed noodles dinner.)
Burnout is defined as:
a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive or prolonged stress.
And stress can come from many different sources. It comes from overwhelm, or trying to meet constant demands.
Does that describe your cooking patterns in any way? It did for me.
I hit a wall back then. But it’s not the only time.
I think we can all burnout from the chore of cooking throughout our lives.
Maybe a change in your family dynamics - 👩🏼❤️👨🏼cooking for two when you’ve always cooked for a family.
Or a change in your work patterns - you’re routinely working late into the night.
I know seasons play a big role in burnout - I never want to come inside during the summer; it’s so gorgeous outside! 😎
Changing diets is an instant trigger - you’ve always relied on chicken breast - what do you make now!?
You’ve decided to move to plant-based, and you’ve tried a few recipes in the kitchen. (It doesn’t take long for you to fall out of love with those recipes, and wonder if you should give up once and for all.)
I’ve even faced burnout “just because.” Life feels a little ho-hum. Cooking becomes … meh.
The key to falling in love with your cooking patterns once again is to have a plan in place. Luckily, I have a few tips for you to help you make your plant-based plans a reality once again.
Step away from everyday routines and feed yourself in other ways
Every. Day. It’s. The. Same. Thing.
Of course, it’s going to get monotonous occasionally. What matters then is your approach.
When I feel that coming on, I break away from my normal patterns.
You’ll usually find me going for a walk after work, and stopping off at the local Whole Foods a couple blocks from my house. I pick up any missing ingredients I need to start cooking as soon as I return home.
It’s the way I relax after my busy days. And usually, it works for me.
Until it doesn’t.
That’s when I look for alternatives. Yes, I do head out to restaurants on occasion. And times like this give me a reason to try a new plant-based restaurant. I take note of any recommendations from friends or newsletters, so I’ll have new places to try.
This can also give me inspiration to cook again. If I love an entree, I’ll snap a photo of the menu to get all the ingredients in mind. I’ll make a few notes on flavors. Then, I try to recreate it in the coming weeks.
I also look for ways to simplify. I look for starters at the grocery store. I’ll find plant-based products to make an easy meal.
Do I pay attention to ingredients? You bet. I’m not willing to compromise on quality. But everyone needs a break now and then. Take it whenever you need it.
Change your grocery store routine
I’m a grocery store kinda person. What I mean is when I’m traveling, I LOVE visiting local markets. You can really learn a lot about a culture by taking in their shopping options.
Like the time we were in Italy for a month, “dying” for Mexican food. I actually found tortillas in the American section, and with a few other ingredients, I whipped up some pretty mean tacos and fajitas. 🌮
Then there was the time I went to San Miguel in Mexico. The grocery store!!! Seriously, it’s better than anything I have here in the States.
It was gorgeous!
We spent over an hour browsing the aisles the first time, and we walked out without spending a dime. (Can’t say that held true the second time. Or the third. Or the fourth …)
But here’s the thing. You don’t have to go to Italy or Mexico to fall in love with cooking again. (Though it can help. 😉)
You can find inspiration right in your hometown.
A number of years ago, we became a little obsessed with Asian cooking. So I looked up a local Asian grocery store, and off we headed one weekend. OMG! That place is spectacular. An entire aisle devoted to noodles!
We raced home with bags of food and got busy creating our next meal.
Need inspiration? Find a new location to buy your food.
Search online for specialty grocery stores. Look for farmer’s markets, or niche food markets. You can even look for food events to get your inspiration.
Shop local … and give yourself permission to buy something new each time
I LOVE farmer’s markets. It’s an essential part of my weekly shopping.
Farmer’s markets allow you to get close and personal with the food choices you’re making.
I think we’ve lost that these past few years. People now grab their phones, place an order, and have everything delivered without a second thought. They rely on favorites, have them delivered in a bag, and scarf them down without much thought.
But food is sensual. It’s meant to be touched, smelled, and chosen with care.
I challenge you to find a farmer’s market and buy a few things you’ll enjoy cooking with this week. Create a shopping list so you’ll use what you buy. Then give yourself permission to buy something extra.
This is where you can have fun!
I’m flower-crazy – trust me, there is something incredibly sensual about having a big, beautiful bouquet on your table during dinner. It adds to the ambiance.
And skip the concept of not having bread, even if it’s only for one night. With so many good options these days, you can find something you can eat. Sourdough - mmm, I love it! There’s also a market with scrumptious olive bread loaves that are completely out of this world. (Yes, we’ve been working on recreating that loaf here at home.)
Or maybe you’ll find a vegetable you’ve never worked with before. I remember the first time I found nopales at my local market. Nopales is a prickly pear cactus. It can be used in many ways - mix it in a salad, throw it in a stir-fry, or create nopales tacos. They have a very unique flavor - and here in my local region, are very seasonable. So I look forward to cooking them when they show up.
Make a plan to buy something new … you’ll know when you see it. Then play with it, see what you can do with it, and incorporate it into your meals.
Make shopping an event
How do you shop? Is it a chore? You do it when you’re tired and hungry after a busy day? Or do you calendar and make it a pleasurable moment of the day?
Changing up how you approach shopping can change everything.
I always shop with my husband. We use it as a chance to talk about our days. We’ve planned entire meals just by perusing the aisles of the store.
Yes, I’ll still run in for an ingredient I’ve forgotten. But for my big shopping days, it’s a time I look forward to. Give it a try. You may find it works for you, too.
Buy yourself a new cookbook
You are following my ongoing series called The Cookbook Club, aren’t you? (The next cookbook selection is just a few days away!) I select one cookbook a month and use it for planning meals for the month.
Yes, I still cook my favorites. But a few times a week, I open up the cookbook and start cooking. Even if the recipes are “standard” - chili, or tacos, or a kale salad - each author takes a different approach. It’s a way to find and replace favorites, and experiment with different foods.
Plus, it gives me something new to look forward to each month.
Not sure what cookbook is right for you this month? Browse several. Mix it up to ensure you’re experimenting with entirely new foods. Bookmark several that look scrumptious, and mark them on the calendar to give them a try.
Bring fun back into the kitchen
I remember having fun in the kitchen as a child. It didn’t matter if I got flour all over the floor, or my “famous” brownies were a little rough around the edges.
I baked because I love to bake.
Then I’d stack those brownies up on a pretty plate, and put them on the table for dessert. Guess what? Everybody loved them!
That’s the point.
You cook because it brings pleasure into the lives of those around you. It’s a sensual experience …
What brings you joy in the kitchen? What foods can you share with your family? How can you present it in a new and exciting way?
We have a tea shop and bakery near me. The owner does the “experience” perfectly.
In the summer, head in and order tea. Then something magical happens! The owner grabs a pair of scissors and moves outside onto her patio. She chops a few ingredients – flowers, mint, basil – and adds them to the teapots. Voila! Incredible tea.
And an even more incredible experience!
That’s what I try to create every time I enter my kitchen. Cooking isn’t a chore when you look at it through Gorgeous eyes!
Create a realistic cooking system
You’re busy. You have a lot on your plate each day. Cooking may be the last thing on your mind as you tick the boxes on your checklist.
But when you make food a top priority – GOOD food that’s GOOD for you – you start looking at what you consume in a different way. And you find a way to make cooking a priority in your day.
But that doesn’t take away from the fact that you’re busy. So, you get to decide how to prioritize it.
Me? I’ve placed a whiteboard calendar on my fridge so we select a week’s worth of menus in advance.
I can use that to shop for the ingredients on the weekend … hello, farmer’s market. I can meal prep to save time wherever I can.
There isn’t a secret way to make this process easier. It all depends on what’s right for you.
Once you eat GOOD food and start to feel better, you’ll LOVE your kitchen even more.
When our birthdays roll around, we’ve always allowed the birthday person to select their favorite restaurant to visit that night. For years now, our selections no longer include going out – we enjoy meals from our kitchen instead!
It’s all in perspective.
If you’re burned out by cooking, I suggest maybe it’s not the act of cooking, and is more about your process. Put the JOY back into your food.
With any of these tips, you’ll discover your kitchen can be a Gorgeous place to be. 💐
Here’s to good health, and even better Wellth!
Lori