• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Scratch To Basics logo
  • RECIPES
    • Sides & Snacks
    • Dips & Dressings
    • Meals
    • Treats
    • Paleo
    • Gluten Free
    • Dairy Free
  • MEAL PLANNING
    • Recomended Meal Planning Apps
    • Recommended Meal Planning Services
    • Free Meal Planning Templates
  • REAL FOOD
    • Real Food 101
    • Where to Buy Real Food
  • CLEAN BEAUTY
  • BLOG
    • Cooking Tools
    • Gift Ideas
    • Favorite Products
    • Free Masterclass: Save Money Without Feeling Restricted By Your Budget
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • FAVORITES
  • TIPS & TOOLS
  • PRODUCTS
  • ABOUT
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • FAVORITES
    • TIPS & TOOLS
    • PRODUCTS
    • ABOUT
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Meal Planning

    How To Get Out of A Cooking Rut in Three Easy Steps

    Last updated on September 15, 2020 by Megan Barrett - Leave a Comment

    Some of the links on this site may be affiliate links. This means, at no additional cost to you, I may be paid a small commission if you follow the links and make a purchase. Learn more here.

    Have you lost that cooking *spark*? Does cooking feel equivalent to lifting a giant boulder? You might be in a cooking rut. This post will walk you through everything you need to know to tell if you're in a cooking rut right now PLUS how to get out of it as quickly as possible.

    The thing is...each of us has a relationship with food.

    And just like your marriage has highs and lows, so does your relationship with food.

    When you first met your husband, likely you had more highs than lows. You got married, entered that “honeymoon” stage where it seemed the other could do no wrong. And then you probably came back down to the “real world”. 

    Maybe you hit some bumps in the road, and instead of floating on cloud 9, enjoying every single thing about your husband, you started to notice that...while he's still amazing...he's just a person. 

    But here’s the thing...a bump has a high part AND a low part. If you want to get to the high part, you’ve got to learn how to get through the lows whenever they come up.

    Woman looking at lettuce

    So now I want you to transition this metaphor to your relationship with food.

    I want you to think of a time when you cooked a meal and you enjoyed the process. Maybe it was fun because it was so easy (and tasted so good). Or maybe it was fun because of the people around you at the time. Or maybe it was enjoyable because it was a holiday celebration and you LOVE being festive.

    That's your cooking “high”.

    Now, think of normal, day-to-day life and how you interact with food. Are you always on cloud nine? Or are there days (maybe every day right now) where you dread stepping into the kitchen and thinking about what you're going to make.

    This is a cooking “low”.

    I like to call it a “rut”.

    What's a cooking rut?

    A cooking rut is a season of feeling “meh” about food and cooking. It happens to all of us at one point or another, and the important thing to remember is that it's JUST a season. Meaning...it WILL pass.

    How to tell if you're in a cooking rut

    If you're not sure if you're in a cooking rut, here are three ways to know for sure...

    1. Cooking doesn't feel fun like it used to. Maybe it feels hard, or uninteresting, or you just feel uninspired.
    2. You used to have a lot of ideas for recipes to make, but now when you step into the kitchen to cook, nothing comes to mind. In fact, you might even find yourself making the same three meals on repeat.
    3. You find yourself opting for takeout more than you used to, because it's easy and you don't have to think as hard when someone else makes the food.

    How to get out of a cooking rut

    Okay, so you're with me now. You've identified that you're in a cooking rut, and now you're ready to get out of it. You want to get back to cloud nine where cooking is fun and easy, and recipes inspire you to try new things, and all is well in the world.

    I get it. Believe me I do.

    I've had my share of cooking ruts, and just like a bad attitude, they're not fun to have or be around.

    So here are three steps that will get you OUT of that rut you're in.

    Step 1: Identify you're in a “rut”

    The first step is simple. Identify that you're in a cooking “rut”. Admit that this isn't the way things have always been, and it's not how things will always be. It's a season, and it's temporary.

    Step 2: Pinpoint bottleneck problem

    Next, we need to pinpoint the problem. I like to think of these problems as bottleneck problems. Because if things are stuck, and not working like they used to...there's usually a reason. And often, it's very simple to fix (once you identify what it is).

    The hardest part is usually figuring out what the problem is. It helps to talk it over with somebody else - a friend, family member, or someone else who supports your health goals.

    If you don’t have anyone to help you through it, you can hire someone to help you talk it over.

    Step 3: Make a plan to get yourself OUT of it

    The last step is to make a plan to get out of it. You can only eat chips & salsa for dinner for so long. As soon as you recognize the rut, pinpoint what part of cooking is holding you back, then it’s time to take steps to get OUT of the rut.

    This could be as simple as sitting down to make a meal plan for the next week. With dinner planned, that’s one less thing you need to think about throughout the week. Overload avoided!

    Related: Six scenarios that scream “YOU NEED A MEAL PLAN!”

    Or maybe your plan includes letting your husband cook dinner for a couple nights to give you a night off.

    Whatever you need, make a plan for it to happen and follow through with your plan.

    What about you? What’s your secret to get you out of a cooking rut?

    Save this for later!

    Woman looking at lettuce

    « 7 Instant Pot Hacks You Need To Be Using Today
    How to Find the Best Meal Prep Method for Your Schedule »

    Meal Planning

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    Hello! I’m Megan. Wife. Mom. Jesus follower. Chocolate lover. I'm passionate about helping you simplify healthy living and make healthy food taste good in your own kitchen. More about me →

    Search STB Here:


    How to Get Your Kids to Eat 30+ Fruits and Veggies (with a Smile)

    Learn about how it works & how to get FREE product for kids HERE.

    Get 20% Off Clean Beauty at Beautycounter

    image of beautycounter products
    Get the coupon code here and then take the skincare quiz!

    Simplify Your Life. Make a Meal Plan.

    weekly and monthly meal planning templates
    Get the FREE meal planning templates here!

    Ad - Web Hosting from SiteGround - Crafted for easy site management. Click to learn more.

    Trending on STB

    20+ Meal Planning Templates For Stress Free Dinners
    How to Use a Tortilla Press to Make Homemade Tortillas
    Crowd Cow vs Butcher Box - Which is The Best Meat Delivery Service For You?
    tomato paste pizza sauce finished
    How to Make The Best Pizza Sauce Recipe With Tomato Paste
    5 Best Meal Planning Services for Stress Free Dinners

    Hello! I’m Megan. Wife. Mom. Jesus follower. Chocolate lover. I'm passionate about helping you simplify healthy living and make healthy food taste good in your own kitchen. More about me →

    Search STB Here:


    How to Get Your Kids to Eat 30+ Fruits and Veggies (with a Smile)

    Learn about how it works & how to get FREE product for kids HERE.

    Get 20% Off Clean Beauty at Beautycounter

    image of beautycounter products
    Get the coupon code here and then take the skincare quiz!

    Simplify Your Life. Make a Meal Plan.

    weekly and monthly meal planning templates
    Get the FREE meal planning templates here!

    Ad - Web Hosting from SiteGround - Crafted for easy site management. Click to learn more.

    Trending on STB

    20+ Meal Planning Templates For Stress Free Dinners
    How to Use a Tortilla Press to Make Homemade Tortillas
    Crowd Cow vs Butcher Box - Which is The Best Meat Delivery Service For You?
    tomato paste pizza sauce finished
    How to Make The Best Pizza Sauce Recipe With Tomato Paste
    5 Best Meal Planning Services for Stress Free Dinners

    Footer

    • About Megan
    • Privacy Policy
    • Free Budgeting Training
    • Work with Me
    • Guest Post Guidelines
    • Contact Me

    Copyright © 2023 · Scratch To Basics Log in

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT