A Cooking Confession...

I used to be really intimidated by cooking. The array of knobs and buttons on my stove frightened me. The vast assortment of pots, pans, and utensils in my friends' kitchens gave me anxiety attacks.

Now, I'm much more mellow about the whole meal-prepping thing. One reason is that my microwave is and always has been my best kitchen buddy. And who knew one form of healthy cooking is as simple as cooking veggies in the microwave?

Turns out it's a great way to do it: The quick cooking time means veggies retain important nutrients that "escape" the veggies when they leach out during other cooking methods such as boiling. (FYI: Air, heat, water, and time all impact the nutrition content of veggies, according to my all-knowing nutrition instructor.)

Of course, the other trick is to not melt butter or cheese in said handy-dandy microwave to top those healthy veggies. Aargh!

More: Cook for Weight Loss