Previously published in the Galveston Daily News on August 27, 2025
One of my favorite things to do each day is to make dinner for my family. It often becomes a full family affair where we can teach our daughter how to cut up veggies or kitchen safety when dealing with the stove or oven. Some studies have found that engaging children in the act of cooking helps to increase the likelihood they will eat the meal. A few nights ago, my family was craving grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup. Rather than grab a can of soup or bread, we decided to make it all ourselves. This got me thinking about how much healthier homemade food can be compared to store bought.
One of the primary reasons homemade can be better than store-bought is because of the fact that homemade usually has fewer ingredients. Look at bread, for example. A standard loaf of store-bought bread can have 20 ingredients. Homemade can be made with as little as four: Flour, salt, water (or other liquid), and yeast. Most individuals add sugar and fat to help improve the texture and flavor. Homemade food allows you to control the ingredients. You can reduce the amount of salt in a recipe to help lower your risk of hypertension. Refined sugar can be substituted with other alternatives like honey to help reduce inflammation and obesity. The fats and oils needed for certain foods can be switched from saturated fats to healthier options. (See Dr. Yasin’s column on healthy Fats). Regardless of your restrictions, there are alternatives available with homemade cooking.
The other benefit of homemade cooking is a reduction in the number of additives and preservatives found in store-bought products. These compounds are necessary to ensure that the product remains shelf-stable. These food preservatives can be linked to a number of health issues, such as hives, bloating, changes in stool patterns, respiratory problems and even behavioral issues in children. Depending on the product, some products have shown a possible link to chronic conditions such as cancer, depression and obesity.
Outside of the ingredients, homemade cooking has been linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses like hypertension and high cholesterol. Not only is the quality of food better, but self-prepared food is typically cheaper than eating out or store-bought. For example, a typical $15 entree can usually be made for less than $6 at home.
So how do we incorporate healthy home cooking into our busy lives? The first step is to start small. Try increasing home cooking by one meal per week. Meal planning and cooking in big batches with easy preheatable meals can also be helpful for busy families. Incorporate more plants like beans, legumes, lentils and whole grains for a more filling and healthier food choices. Consider going vegetarian twice or more a week to reduce the amount of meat (which is usually the most expensive part of a meal). These small changes can have big impacts on our health and how we feel. Try making a homemade meal this week.