I always took for granted that my mom was a great cook. Meals at home were always planned out for me. A pasta dish one night, grilled chicken over fresh greens another night, and maybe even some homemade pizza on Friday nights. I loved grocery shopping with her but mainly because I could pick out the best snacks and the juiciest apples. It was until the summer where I truly lived on my own, no mom to cook for me, no dining hall, just a kitchen, Pinterest, and one of my roommates cookbooks, where I really learned about cooking. I know, embarrassing, I didn't learn how to cook until I was in my 20s, but let's not judge here.

Food is freaking expensive

I never really had to stop and think about how much food costs. Some of my favorite foods I would just pick up and have one of those "WHAT" moments. When I started going to the store myself and it was my card being swiped at the end I put much more thought into what was going into my cart and if I really needed that second tub of ice cream.

The farmer's market is pretty cool

There isn't really a farmer's market where I'm from so until I spent my summer away from home I had never really been to one. It's actually really cool. There are so many little stands around selling fresh bread, spinach, strawberries you name it. I tried so many new foods at the market, radishes, rhubarb, beets, and so much more that I would have never tried. It's also cool to go every week and see what's new since new foods start to come in season.

It takes planning

I guess I had this false perception that you didn't really have to plan out meals to cook, that my mom would just walk into the kitchen and the food would tell her what to make. Just kidding, but I never really thought about it until the fire first week of cooking for myself I kept saying "Oh, I'll cook this.. oh wait, I dont have (fill in the blank)." Yeah.. rough. Word of advice, start planning before you go to the supermarket so you're not having pasta every night.

It's not that hard

I never tried cooking that much because I thought it was really hard. I would watch my mom and my grandma and always think.. oh crap. Hopefully my dream husband can cook one day. While watch out dream husband (wherever you may be) because cooking really isn't that hard and trying new recipes is fun. Even if they don't turn out exactly how you wanted them too the fact that I made it makes them still taste pretty darn good.

You know what's in it

We've all been there where your out to eat or someone cooked for you and it tastes amazing but you have that thought of "do I wanna know what's in this?" Knowing there has got to be a stick of butter or two. When you cook for yourself you know what's in it and you can control what you put in your body. Weirdly enough when I started cooking for myself I started eating a lot healthier.

You'll want to cook

It becomes almost like a game called "I wonder what I'm gonna cook tonight." It's fun looking in the fridge and seeing what different foods you can put together to make something new. I tried so many new foods and spices recently that I would have never tried before. I (sometimes) look forward to getting home from work and starting to cook.

You appreciate food more

Now that you know that cooking taste time and effort, you'll appreciate it so much more when people cook for you or when your mom cooks you an amazing meal. You'll know that it didn't just "happen" like you might have thought before.

There is always takeout

This is for if you really mess up, or if you're feeling lazy. I strongly recommend Thai.