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You may be one of the 90% of Americans who don’t like to cook — but you probably know that you should cook more. Because while eating out or ordering takeout saves time, it depletes your bank accounts and your health. 

The health benefits of a home-cooked meal outweigh almost any other method of eating, no matter the recipe. Here’s why: 

You’re in control of the ingredients. Lisa Valente, M.S., R.D., former nutrition editor for EatingWell and Cooking Light, says one of the best parts about cooking at home is controlling the ingredients, so you know exactly what you’re eating. 

This is important not only for people with dietary restrictions — as it can be frustrating figuring out which items at a restaurant are safe to eat — but for anyone trying to eat healthier. You control the amount of salt, sugar and spice going into your food when you’re in charge — and can adjust it to your tastes. 

You can better manage your weight. A 2014 study from Johns Hopkins University found that those who cooked at home frequently consumed fewer calories as well as less sugar and carbohydrates than those who made a home-cooked meal only once a week — whether they were trying to lose weight or not. 

Even the “best” option on a restaurant menu can still pack a shocking amount of calories, sodium, fat and sugar that you likely wouldn’t have included if you were making the meal yourself. 

Our taste buds adapt based on what we are eating. If you dine out, order takeout or microwave a frozen meal for dinner most nights, your taste buds become accustomed to the heavier amounts of salt and sugar.  

Luckily, that’s reversible: Cooking at home helps you readjust your taste buds to get more flavor from dishes without relying so heavily on salt, sugar and butter. 

You’ll eat more variety. Even if you just have a kitchen full of veggies, whole grains and healthy proteins, that is still better than having dozens of restaurants at your fingertips.  

People were more likely to adhere to DASH or Mediterranean Diet eating patterns and consume more fruits and vegetables if they cooked at home five nights a week compared to those who only cooked three nights a week or less. 

Cooking makes it easier to practice portion control. The average restaurant meal contains a whopping 1,200 calories. Cooking your own meals can help you stock up on multiple servings for the next day’s lunch or another night’s dinner. And if you are only cooking a healthy portion, it can also keep you from being tempted to eat too much food. 

The National Institutes of Health reports that restaurants’ super-sized portions distort our idea of what a healthy serving of food should look like, which can affect how much we eat at home. The more you cook, the more you can resolve that portion distortion. 

Cooking brings pleasure. Cooking is associated with stress relief, encouraging creativity and feelings of positivity. It can connect us with others.  

Getting into the kitchen more frequently also can build confidence, and learning (or teaching someone) to cook can bring a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. 

EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at eatingwell.com.  

© 2024 Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.