We've all been there – running around like headless chickens, grabbing whatever food’s quick and easy just to get through the day. In this mad rush, we've let ready-made convenience trump nourishment. This Women’s Month, home cook turned bestselling cookbook author, Chantal Lascaris, helps busy women everywhere rediscover an easy entry point to self-love – and it just happens to be through the kitchen door.

Johannesburg, 1 August24: I’m as guilty as the next person: Too busy to pause, to cook, to nourish my body with what feels good – and so it’s not surprising that I spent much of my startup career subscribing to the proverbial grab-n-go culture. Until I course-corrected a little (maybe a lot!), and I realised that in order to change my relationship with food, I had to change my relationship with cooking first.  

My biggest gripe about the kitchen back then was the schlep of cooking – finding the right ingredients, moving between suburbs just to find wholesome foods, reading complicated recipes, not having enough time to prepare said-complicated recipes, and so the resistance continued for me.

I, more than most, appreciate that the simple joy of preparing a meal has become a chore for most of us, with ready-made meals and takeout replacing the wholesome, home-cooked dishes we actually deserve. With so much going on, it's easy to forget that cooking can be an act of self-love.

What if I told you that to find peace and nourishment in your kitchen, it doesn’t have to be that deep, nor complicated. It’s time to bring it back to basics – which is exactly what ultimately inspired my All Sorts Cookbook Series. To rediscover the act of cooking as a beautiful, easy, wholesome way to show love to ourselves and those around us.

This Women’s Month, I want to help reclaim our kitchens as spaces of self-care and creativity. Cooking doesn’t have to be about impressing others with the Kale you found in Nepal or fancy plated gourmet masterpieces. So many of us may not have time to pull a “MasterChef” and make everything from scratch, and that’s okay. It’s more about turning the kitchen into your own temple of taste. Letting you take a breather from the stressors of life, from the constant blue light of our screens, and finding solace in the rhythmic act of simply chopping, stirring, tasting, and simmering feel-good food.  

You should be able to step into your kitchen, not as a place of obligation, but as a sanctuary – not because it’s another room in the house, but because it’s a room, a space, a love affair with yourself that you deserve. Make it your own. Play your go-to music or listen to an audiobook.

And for those of us who suffer cooking anxiety when others come to visit, simply respect yourself and your space enough to set boundaries with family and friends. Find ways to keep them busy in another room while you claim your joy inside the kitchen. When you learn to treat cooking as a ritual, you’ll start to appreciate the love it returns to you, bringing about a sense of calm and order to your day. In my books, cooking becomes less about the end product and more about the process – a process that grounds you, soothes you, and reminds you that you are worth the time and effort.

Of course, even now, not every day is a culinary success. Even in ritual, we mess up. Again, allow yourself to mess up. Those culinary mishaps only add to the adventure. Shaking off the pressure of ‘perfect’ is just another way of showing yourself appreciation and love. And what better place to humble yourself than in the kitchen. Like when you’re hosting friends and you quickly decide to hide a dirty pot in the switched-off oven, planning to wash it later. Then, forget about it for days, until you’re met with one helluva smell, enough to send the cat packing. Yes, guilty!

Having been there, tried it, burnt that and written six recipe books to prove you can make your life easy and wholesome, I do have some tricks up my sleeve for you. For the woman in the grab-n-go spiral. The mom too busy to think. The eternal student adverse to pots and pans. The anxious hostess. And the women who don’t know where to start. Here are a few of my hacks to turn your kitchen into a self-confessed lovefest; a sanctuary of your own where you can transform the idea of cooking from a chore into a cherished ritual:

• Set the Mood: Create a relaxing atmosphere with soft lighting, your favourite music, or a captivating audiobook. Your kitchen doesn't have to be Insta-worthy; it just needs to be a place where you feel comfortable and happy.

• Create Boundaries: Let your family or housemates know that this is your time. Encourage them to respect your space and give you the uninterrupted time to enjoy cooking.

• Simplify with One-Dish Meals: Embrace recipes that require minimal cleanup, like those from my One-Dish Wonders book. This way, you can focus on the joy of cooking without the dread of a massive cleanup afterward. Lookout for my favourites, here, the divine Sticky Chicken: Chicken pieces, soya sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, pan, oven, and forget about it. 

• Embrace the Ritual: If cooking is something that intimidates you, take your power back by following recipes that guide you through each step. It doesn’t only make cooking simple, but the ritualistic nature of cooking can be meditative, helping you to unwind and find peace in the process.

• Focus on Nourishment: Pay attention to the ingredients you’re using. Choose foods that are nutritious and make you feel good. Think of cooking as a way to nourish your body and soul.

• Make it Fun: Ready-made is no fun at all, let’s be honest. The kitchen is where it’s really at. Don’t be afraid to experiment and play. Cooking should be enjoyable. Try new recipes, mix different ingredients, and let your creativity flow. The more confident you get in the kitchen, the easier this will come to you. Then the fun really begins. 

• Practice Gratitude: Take a moment to appreciate the food you’re preparing and the time you’re taking for yourself. Acknowledge that this act of cooking is a form of self-love and care.

Go now, you wonderful woman, and show yourself some love. 

For All Sorts of go-to, easy-to-follow, delicious recipes, check out Chantal’s Lascaris’ "All Sorts" Cookbook Series available at all leading retailers, and online as e-books. Follow Chantal on social media for more cooking tips and inspiration.

Facebook: @ChantalAllSorts

Instagram: @Chantal_Lascaris

ABOUT CHANTAL LASCARIS

After selling her clothing business in 2011, she pursued her love of health and fitness and qualified as a Pilates instructor, before becoming a self-made cook.  Best loved for her debut cookbook All Sorts of Salads, Chantal has become the South African urbanite’s BFF in the kitchen. She’s all about keeping it real. Her philosophy of imperfection towards the perfect recipe, and her experimental expertise has won South Africa over. Today, Chantal Lascaris is a South African-made home chef promoting her recipe books whilst running a small farm in Western Cape. She has published a string of popular go-to cookbooks in South Africa, including All Sorts of Salads, All Sorts of Healthy Dishes, the Mediterranean Way, All Sorts of One Dish Wonders, All Sorts of Tapas and of course, the newbie – The Ultimate Salad Book. This is where you’ll find vibrant and flavourful side salads that shine as accompaniments or starters, protein packed lunches that keep the body and mind nourished from morning to night, and deliciously dazzling main courses. This book pushes the boundaries to bring salads over and onto the main dish. With this assortment of superb salads, you’ll be eating them for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dessert.

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