Eat well and save the planet at the same time.

I have a friend who works part time at a major bookstore. She told me that college age women come in all the time and ask for a cookbook on basic cooking; they do not know how to cook and want to learn. I am delighted that this generation has an interest in wanting to learn how to cook, but I am amazed that we have raised a generation that does not know how to do something that is necessary to life.

I realize that it is entirely possible to eat without ever turning on your stove or oven, but eating all of your food without cooking it for yourself is a scary thought. It is common knowledge that fast food, takeout foods, manufactured foods and processed foods have more fat, sugar and salt than home cooked foods. They also have artificial colors, flavorings and preservatives, they are more expensive and they are more damaging to the planet.

The younger generation is more aware of the impact they are leaving on the environment than any previous generation. They can see that the packaging and Styrofoam from manufactured and takeout foods add to the landfills. They realize that fossil fuels are consumed in great quantity in order to create convenience foods. They understand that fast foods and instant foods are not as healthy as real foods and that eating them has taken a toll on our health.

Let’s Cook Tonight® and America’s Cooking Cheerleader™ is delighted that this generation is asking for someone to teach them how to cook so they can be healthier, save money, and help the environment. They get it and my cookbook Let’s Cook Tonight: Real Food, Real Flavor, Real Easy will teach them how.

Cooking is easier than you think and you are worth the time and effort it takes.

Simple cooking idea: Scrape fresh ginger root with a spoon. The peel will come of easily.

Copyright ©2010 by Gigi Centaro. All Rights Reserved.