Madison Wetherill is the woman behind Cook at Home Mom, where she inspires busy families to embrace wholesome, delicious cooking. Based in sunny Arizona, Madison juggles life as a wife and mom to three energetic boys, blending the chaos of family life with her passion for creating meals that nourish the body and soul. her blog is a trusted resource for approachable, flavor-packed recipes that cater to a variety of dietary preferences, including gluten-free, Whole30/Paleo, and keto. With an emphasis on balance and wellness, Madison proves that eating healthy doesn’t have to be complicated or diet-focused, it’s about creating meals you love and sharing them with the people who matter most.
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Check out Madison's recipes HERE on her website
Starting the Journey to Healthier Eating Madison Wetherill advised listeners that improving their eating habits doesn't require an immediate, drastic change (00:04:35). She emphasized starting small and encouraged individuals to define what "eating healthier" means for their own family (00:05:37). Madison Wetherill cautioned against comparing oneself to others and highlighted the importance of sustainable, long-term changes over quick fixes (00:04:35) (00:06:29).
Addressing Challenges in Maintaining Healthy Eating Habits Brooke Harmer identified two common struggles for moms: difficulty staying on track with healthy eating and feeling uninspired by repetitive meals (00:09:15). Madison Wetherill believes that most people struggle with planning, time for cooking, and knowing what to eat, regardless of their current eating habits (00:10:14). She stressed the importance of understanding one's family's needs and the current season of life when making food choices (00:11:11).
Strategies for Meal Planning and Execution For moms struggling with planning, Madison Wetherill recommended scheduling a consistent day for meal planning and grocery shopping (00:12:07). She suggested creating a running list of tried-and-true family recipes to reduce decision fatigue (00:13:03). Having a reference list can simplify the planning process and ensure at least one meal choice is already decided (00:14:47).
Enhancing Nutritional Value of Familiar Recipes Madison Wetherill suggested simple ways to boost the nutrition of existing recipes, such as making homemade taco seasoning to reduce sodium. She also recommended easily adding extra vegetables to dishes like taco bowls or serving them as sides (00:15:46). Brooke Harmer shared personal hacks like adding minced mushrooms to ground meat and mixing cauliflower rice with mashed potatoes to increase vegetable intake (00:16:45). Madison Wetherill also suggested switching out proteins for a healthier twist (00:18:41).
Adding Variety and Excitement to Home Cooking For moms feeling bored with their cooking, Madison Wetherill encouraged embracing creativity by adding simple, fresh ingredients to familiar dishes, such as sautéed onions and spinach with chicken (00:19:45). She suggested using fresher versions of ingredients like garlic and vegetables to enhance flavor (00:20:49). Incorporating pickled vegetables and fresh herbs can also add brightness, flavor, and visual appeal to meals (00:21:41).
Tips for a More Enjoyable Cooking Experience Madison Wetherill recommended preparing extra herbs and storing them properly to extend their freshness. She also suggested finding time to cook without the kids around to reduce stress and rekindle the joy of cooking (00:23:50). Creating a pleasant cooking environment by playing music or lighting a candle can also transform the experience (00:24:39).
Rethinking Meal Planning for Busy Individuals Madison Wetherill doesn't believe strict meal planning for every meal is necessary for healthy eating but finds it helpful for managing the dinner rush (00:25:31). She suggested starting by planning the most challenging meal, often dinner, and being flexible with the plan. Planning by protein type for each day can provide structure without being overly restrictive (00:26:39).
The Practicalities of Meal Prep for Moms Madison Wetherill acknowledged the negative perception of meal prep and offered a more flexible approach for moms. Her method includes doubling meals for leftovers or freezing, and keeping backup meals in the freezer for unexpected situations. Brooke Harmer highlighted the value of having freezer meals readily available, even outside the postpartum period (00:28:23) (00:30:04). Both speakers also discussed ingredient prepping as a time-saving strategy (00:31:48).
Utilizing Kitchen Appliances for Easier Meals Madison Wetherill finds using multiple appliances can streamline dinner preparation by allowing simultaneous cooking of different components with optimal methods. She and Brooke Harmer agreed that the preference for using one or multiple appliances depends on individual comfort and priorities (00:33:30) (00:35:26). They emphasized the benefits of convenience appliances like Instant Pots and air fryers for saving time and effort (00:34:38). Ingredient prepping can further maximize the efficiency of appliance use (00:37:17).
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