The holidays are here... maybe it’s time to break up with snacks and cook real food
By Eli Mercer on
I have a friend (and honestly… I’ve been this friend before) who basically lives on snacks. I’m talking chips, granola bars, crackers, microwave popcorn, protein bars, cookies, candy, maybe a bagel grabbed on the way out the door. Not because he doesn’t want to cook but because snacks are easy, familiar, and don’t ask anything from you.
And I get it. Life is busy. Work is exhausting. Cooking can feel like “one more thing.” Snacks turn into meals because they’re fast, comforting, and require zero cleanup.
But now it’s the festive season. A lot of us are actually home. The kitchen’s right there. Grocery stores are stocked. The air literally smells like food this time of year. And I keep thinking, isn’t this the perfect moment to slow down and cook something real?
Not snacks pretending to be meals. Actual food. Things like:
- Roast chicken with potatoes and carrots
- A pot of chili simmering on the stove
- Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy
- Baked salmon with rice and green beans
- Breakfast-for-dinner... eggs, bacon, and toast
Nothing fancy. Nothing Instagram-perfect. Just warm, filling, sit-down food that feels grounding especially during the holidays when everything else is loud and rushed.
I’m not saying snacks are bad. I love snacks. They have their place. But snacks every day can quietly drain you, especially when you’re already tired and stressed.
Enjoy your holidays!