4 Reasons to Cook at Home:
- It’s healthier! Think less Calories, Sugar, Salt, and Bad Fat. Note, restaurant foods are usually loaded with Salt, Sugar, and Bad Fat to enhance flavor and palatability.
- Control what goes into your body. When you cook at home, you can make sure you know exactly what ingredients are going into your food, which is key to successful weight management.
- Healthy leftovers. Most recipes make several serving so putting the effort into cooking one healthy dish can make for a couple of great lunches or dinner the next day. Just make sure to portion out the servings into separate containers so that you aren't tempted to overeat the extras!
- Relax and decompress. Cooking can be a great way to relax at the end of the day or even a way to blow off steam (literally!).
Comparing Your Favorite Foods: Home-cooked vs. Restaurant
Homemade Turkey Burger* vs. Denny's Cali Jack Turkey Burger
Homemade Turkey Burger* vs. Denny's Cali Jack Turkey Burger


180 Calories 650 Calories
160 mg Salt 1460 mg Salt
4g Bad Fat 10g Bad Fat
Homemade Chicken Burrito vs. Chipotle's Chicken Burrito


486 Calories 895 Calories
797 mg Salt 1850 mg Salt
2g Bad Fat 11g Bad Fat


486 Calories 895 Calories
797 mg Salt 1850 mg Salt
2g Bad Fat 11g Bad Fat
*Ingredients for homemade turkey burger are based on USDA dataset.
What Does it Take to Get in the Habit of Cooking at Home?
- Plan Ahead: Make it a point to go grocery shopping every week to make sure you have all of the ingredients you will need to whip up healthy, easy meals during the week. Once you get into the habit of cooking and have a stash of ingredients in your kitchen, it will take much less time and effort.
- Keep staples in your pantry: whole wheat pasta, brown rice, quinoa, and beans can be incorporated into any healthy recipe. Adding some grilled or pan-seared vegetables to brown rice or whole wheat pasta is a simple dinner that is rich in fiber and other nutrients.
- Exercise Portion Control: Most recipes make several servings so be sure to portion them out into containers so that you can pull them out of the refrigerator (or freezer) and reheat when you get home from work ravenous.
Homemade Chicken Burrito
This is a delicious chicken burrito recipe that can be whipped together at the last minute and tastes great too!
- Whole Wheat Wrap (Cedar's or similar brand)
- Diced Onion – 1/8 cup
- Diced Green Pepper – 1/4 cup
- Canned Black Beans - 1/4 cup
- Grilled Chicken Breast, sliced - 3 ounces
- Finely Chopped Cilantro – Tbsp
- Lemon Juice – 1 Tbsp
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