I hate washing dishes.

That’s a big part of why it took me a long time to make cooking a habit.

When I went to college, my mom handed me a binder of our family’s favorite recipes—things she’d been making for me my whole life. I didn’t open it very often. For years, cooking required too much activation energy. I could only muster the enthusiasm on special occasions, usually when cooking for roommates or friends.

On those nights, I’d flip through the binder (or a cookbook) and pick something to whip up. Then came the hours-long process of shopping, prepping, and cooking. I’d create a huge mess for sure—and occasionally some decent food. I touched every dish and utensil in the kitchen. Clean-up would take the entire next day.

The economics didn’t work.

I put too much in—shopping, prep, time, money—and got too little out.

So cooking stayed occasional—something I did now and then, not a daily practice. For survival, I relied on Clif bars, restaurants, pizza delivery, and convenience foods that required only the simplest preparation.

Then our first daughter arrived and I realized: I need to clean up my act.

Restaurants became an impossible indulgence, not a regular staple. I exercised less. Sleep became a luxury. And my old convenience diet—barely sustainable before—started to catch up with me. I could feel it while putting on my pants.

I also didn’t want our daughter growing up thinking food only comes in crinkly packages and lukewarm, greasy cardboard boxes.

So I turned my attention to the kitchen.

I cook a lot these days. Not because I became a foodie. Not because I developed a passion for elaborate meals. But because I’ve learned how to reduce the work and increase the satisfaction. Cooking (nearly) every meal for our family of four gives me real enjoyment. It’s good for our health. It’s good for our budget. And it’s some of our best family time—especially when the kids help.

Habitually Cooking is a series where I’ll share what I’ve learned: principles, simple foundational meals, and systems that make cooking less of a hobby and more of a habit. Thanks for checking it out.

Washing dishes still sucks, though.

Subscribe now