I'm Not a Great Cook (and that's okay)

I am not a great cook, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

…But I used to be. Especially as a personal trainer and holistic nutrition consultant in 2016, when I was brand new to my career.

It was the early years of Instagram. Food pics were peak social media content, and I was trying to promote myself online in hopes of attracting nutrition coaching clients. At the time, I was in a weird place with my relationship with food—caught between my former bodybuilder diet and the organic, no processed food, no added sugars or sweeteners, all-natural kind of vibe that is highly prevalent in the holistic health space.

Between my already complicated relationship with food and the pressure of posting food pictures on Instagram, I felt like I was supposed to be cooking, eating, and sharing perfectly curated, uber-nutritious meals 24/7.

What made this particularly difficult for me—you know, aside from the uncomfortable emotions, the obsessive thoughts, and the sense of needing absolute control over my food—was that what people most wanted to see online were recipes… and I can’t follow a recipe to save my life.

I never really learned to cook when I was young. I took one semester of cooking in junior high school, and the only thing I remember making was scrambled eggs—which I’m excellent at, by the way. But I was never taught how to chop vegetables or prepare meals. I learned how to open packages and heat things on the stove.

In my early twenties, I learned how to cook just well enough so that I could meal prep for my bodybuilding show, but my food was usually bland and often overdone. While studying nutrition, the training opened my eyes to new foods (and new food fears), and it also got me experimenting in the kitchen.

...Though many of my experiments failed, because, as I said, I can’t follow recipes.

It sounds ridiculous when I say it. I obviously understand the concept of a recipe. They’re instructions, and if I were building a desk, I would follow them to a T. But for some reason, when it comes to food, my ADHD brain just says “fuck it,” and decides that it knows better—or rather, that I just don’t want to do it that way. I want to make it my way.

Thankfully, over time, and with further experimentation, I did manage to build a small repertoire of meals that I enjoy.

Do I have the recipes written down somewhere? Absolutely not.

Are they slightly different every time I make them because of that? Of course.

But I enjoy them nonetheless.

Much like my cooking, my relationship with food also improved over time. When I gave myself permission to eat and enjoy all foods, I began experimenting again—this time with foods that I had once feared and avoided.

Slowly, I embraced the idea that meals didn’t need to be perfect. I could still eat in ways that support my health and wellbeing without having to cook everything from scratch, buy organic, or even chop my own vegetables if I didn’t want to.

Some people love cooking, and to them I say, “Do you have any leftovers?”

But for many others, cooking is just another chore on the to-do list at the end of a long day—done simply because one must eat. It can also be an incredibly daunting task for someone who is neurodivergent, or who struggles with fine motor movements, grip strength, or chronic pain.

So to all of you, I offer a friendly reminder: it is safe and healthy to eat packaged and convenience foods, and ensuring that you eat is more important than what you eat.

I also offer you my favourite cooking, eating, and nutrition tips—for folx who don’t really like to cook.

Tip #1: Meal prep is your friend

Since I don’t enjoy cooking, I find it helpful to get it all out of the way in one go so that the rest of the week I can rest easy knowing I already have what I need.

If cooking everything at once feels overwhelming, start by making enough for leftovers whenever you do cook. Save a serving for lunch the next day, or pop leftovers in the freezer for days when you don’t have the time or energy to cook.

When it comes to meal prep, I focus on meals that are simple, enjoyable, and repeatable. For me, this was less about following specific recipes and more about learning how to properly cook certain foods, and discovering what flavors and textures I enjoy.

I typically plan 3-part meals, focusing on protein, carbs, and veggies. I plan two different meals each week and prepare enough to cover lunch and dinner for 5 or 6 days—usually leaving room for a meal out or a shared meal with my partner. (Keep reading for some of my favourite easy meals.)

Don’t forget about snacks. Planning your meals is important, but contrary to what you may have been told, snacks are important too. Especially if you have a busy or irregular schedule, struggle with your appetite, or tend to forget to eat.

Prepare yourself with easy, grab-and-go snacks that you enjoy and that give you energy.

Tip #2: Convenience is kindness

The diet industry sends mixed messages about packaged, convenient foods—implying that anything processed or packaged is somehow bad or lazy, while simultaneously trying to sell you overpriced shakes, bars, and powders.

Purchasing pre-chopped, frozen, or canned produce can be a great way to save time, effort, and money. The same can be said about your proteins, carbs, snacks, or really any component of your meals and eating.

If chopping or preparing certain foods creates a barrier to eating them, skipping that step altogether makes it more likely that you’ll eat and enjoy those foods—and the nutrition they provide.

Caring for yourself is a long game. The easier you make it, the more sustainable it becomes.

Tip #3: Supplements—yay or nay?

There are so many different powders, pills, shakes, and bars out there that it’s bound to be confusing.

While in a perfect world we would get all the nutrition we need from food, supplements can help fill in the gaps when something is missing from our diet.

There is no one perfect supplement, and we are all unique in our needs—so I’m not going to give you a list of “must-haves.” But I can offer some general recommendations based on my knowledge and experience:

• Protein shakes, powders, or bars can be helpful when you’re busy, on the go, struggling with appetite, or highly active

• A multivitamin or fruit and veggie supplement can help support overall nutrient intake, especially at times when your diet is lacking variety

• An omega-3 supplement can support cardiovascular health, especially if you don’t eat much seafood

• Here in Alberta, especially during winter, a vitamin D supplement can be crucial since our natural production relies on sun exposure

  
  

When choosing a supplement, consider what makes sense for your lifestyle, health, and budget. Sometimes the only way to know is to try it and see how you feel. Other times, it may be worth seeking professional guidance.

Tip #4: Easy meal and snack ideas

General advice is helpful—but sometimes we just need ideas. Here are some of my favourite low-effort meals and snacks:

My go-to easy meals:

• Easy burrito bowl: ground meat or meat substitute with taco or chili spices, served over rice with pre-chopped coleslaw and frozen sweet corn

• Baked salmon (or other fish) with baked broccoli (pre-chopped or frozen), served with rice

• Pasta with ground meat and tomato-based sauce

  Convenience tip: use ready-made sauces and bulk them up with extra veggies

• Crispy chicken salads or wraps using bagged salad and frozen breaded chicken strips. Perfect if you have an air fryer.

• Salsa pulled chicken (Made in a slow cooker or Instant Pot): serve over nachos, in wraps with shredded lettuce or cabbage, or as a lazy taco salad

• Bulked-up ramen: add frozen shrimp, boiled eggs, or tofu, plus frozen kale or edamame to your favourite instant noodles.

• Vegetarian coconut curry: curry paste, frozen peppers and onions, coconut milk, canned lentils and chickpeas, and frozen cauliflower over rice

My go-to easy snacks:

• Smoothies (banana, frozen berries, yogurt, seeds, coconut water or juice, high-protein milk or milk alternative)

• Cheese and crackers with pickles (aka lazy charcuterie)

• Apple with peanut butter

• Mini-cucumbers with hummus

• Granola or protein bars

• Protein shakes

Other easy add-ins:

• High-protein milks

• Instant oatmeal (add seeds or frozen fruit)

• Frozen egg bites

  
  

You don’t need to be a great cook to eat well.

A truly healthy diet takes your time, abilities, and budget into account—and includes a variety of foods eaten for enjoyment, nutrition, and convenience.

If you’d like to support your health with food and nutrition without focusing on perfection, consider what you can add, not what you can avoid—and make doing so as easy as possible.

If you found this helpful, check out the Self Care Community. Lets un-complicate self care together.