by Yvette Durham

Created on: February 18, 2008   Last Updated: December 03, 2011

There is no denying that fast food every once in a while is highly satisfying and gloriously indulgent. Occasionally, there are those times when only a McDonald's filet of fish with extra tartar will do (especially when you are four months pregnant and have niggling cravings to pacify). We all need that odd naughty treat and once in a while it will not hurt.

Saying this though, I do prefer home cooked meals as a rule. There is something hugely nostalgic and cozy about the very term and the advantages of this over fast food are overwhelming. Let me share with you why I particularly love a home cooked meal:

1) Predominantly, it is healthier. You tend to use fresh ingredients and therefore can pack your food full of all manner of vitamins and nutrients. Having prepared the meal yourself, you have had complete control over what goes into it. There is no hidden salt content or additives or preservatives to fret over - it can be as natural as you desire.

2) Following on from this, as you are making your own food you can add or omit certain ingredients to perfectly suit your tastes. If you have an aversion to mushrooms, maybe use onions instead for that spaghetti bolognaise. Perhaps you have a palate for spicy or flavorsome food so add some Worcester sauce, chives and a splash of red wine.

3) The beauty of home-cooking is that you can be as creative as you like! It is your dish and you are indeed free to experiment as you deem fit. This makes meal-times fun and it is highly rewarding to serve up a successful culinary delight to your hungry family members. You have total freedom to discover new recipes or modify those from your favorite cookbook. Cooking can become a wonderful hobby and, once you have mastered a few dishes, you can enjoy showing off your talents with dinner-parties at home for friends.

4) The variety of home cooking over fast food is ten-fold. Very often with the latter you are left with the same choices - burgers, chips, battered fish, fried chicken and the like. Yet with home cooking the choices are limitless; the only restriction is your imagination.

5) As the latest Subway' commercial aptly states, often when you visit a fast food outlet and order cheese burger and chips you get a lot more than that; it comes with loss of self-esteem, expanding waistline, feelings of guilt and regret and many other undesirable side-effects. Physically you can feel lethargic or bloated and often may have a poorly tummy afterwards. Home cooking is the smart choice

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