The age old question: Is learning how to cook really needed? I have always pondered on how bad it would really be if I told someone that I did not know how to cook. As a college freshman, I have learned how to cook. Living in an apartment kind of forced me to learn. Being an Indian-American, it is important to learn how to cook for my future.
The biggest concern I have is if I do not know how to cook, how am I supposed to live on my own. I have always relied on my mom to make me food. I never realized how important it was to be able to cook for myself. Cooking is crucial if I ever want to live on my own. I need to learn as soon as possible. I need to learn to make more than just ramen and mac and cheese.
Being an Indian-American, I have certain standards put on me. I have to be able to cook traditional Indian meals by the age of 21. Something I never really cared for is cooking because I always felt discouraged. My mom is a great cook and whenever she tries to teach me how to cook a specific dish, she doesn't exactly have much patience. I don't blame her for getting frustrated, but I start to associate cooking with a chore rather than something I want to do. Something I never really understood was that so many Indian-American girls are held to that standard of knowing how to cook. It becomes a real struggle when you are constantly trying to focus on your schoolwork, but also trying to learn how to cook as if you are cooking for a whole family. I hope that one day I'll be able to cook as great as my mom.
Another reason why it is important to know how to cook is due to the benefits. Everyone knows that it isn't the best to eat out everyday. When you cook at home, it typically doesn't require a fryer or high fructose corn syrup. Most of the food that you cook at home isn't processed and this is key when determining how much protein and nutrition you'll get. The reason why so many people eat out is because they think it's faster. In all honesty, cooking doesn't require as much time as people think. Cooking is also less expensive. It is also better for the environment. It requires less energy when every individual cooks at their home then going to a restaurant or fast food chain for their meals.
Cooking has always been something that I'll have to conquer at some point in my life. Right now I'm just learning, but I can't wait to be able to master recipes from left to right. I will be a healthier individual and be able to live on my own. So let me ask you, is cooking something you need to be able to do?
