It’s March and it’s national nutrition month! 

And while it’s fun to eat out and can be convenient to get take out, a somewhat easy way to eat more nutritionally sound is to cook at home.  

Some studies suggest that people who cook more often, rather than get take-out, have an overall healthier diet. These studies also show that restaurant meals typically contain higher amounts of sodium, saturated fat, total fat, and overall calories than home-cooked meals. 

When you put fresh ingredients together yourself you have total control over what is going in your food. That can make a world of difference to your overall health. 

And let’s talk fast food….the average fast food order ranges between 1,100 to 1,200 calories total – that’s almost all of a woman’s recommended daily calorie intake (1,600 to 2,400 calories) and almost two thirds of a man’s daily intake (2,000 to 3,000 calories). And if you thought independent restaurants and smaller chains do any better, think again. Those eateries pump in even more calories, with an average of 1,327 calories per meal. 

Making a meal yourself means you can make sure the portion sizes and calorie counts are where you want them to be.  If you are thinking, you aren’t a good cook, remember the more time you spend in the kitchen, the better you will become at creating fantstic meals!