In this downward economic climate we are all living in there is no wonder why people are turning more to home cooked meals than eating out in restaurants.  

According to Food and Wine Magazine, “home cooking is the hottest food trend of 2009,” and the market-research firm Information Resources says “that supermarket shoppers are cooking more from scratch and spending more on basic cooking ingredients than on convenient but costly frozen and refrigerated foods.”

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Studies have been proven that the biggest influence on family eating habits is the  person who purchases and prepares the food.  

The New York Times states “These “nutritional gatekeepers,” as researchers call them, influence more than 70 percent of the foods we eat, according to a 2006 report in The Journal of the American Dietetic Association — not just home meals but children’s lunches, snacks eaten outside the home, and even what family members order at restaurants.”

The Times states that there are different types of cooks: Giving, Methodical, Competitive, Innovative and Healthy. 

I feel that my style of cooking depends on how I feel that week and is sometimes influenced by  how tired or hungry or if I have come across any enticing recipes I would like to make.

What’s your cooking personality?

Take the Well Quiz and find out.

1) When I prepare a meal, I typically:

    a) Rely on classic dishes my family has always enjoyed.

    b) Follow a recipe step-by-step.

    c) Substitute more healthful ingredients.

    d) Go all out and try to impress my guests.

    e) Rarely use recipes and like to experiment. 

2) Some of my favorite ingredients are:

    a) Lots of bread, starches and red meat.

    b) Beef and chicken.

    c) Fish and vegetables.

    d) A trendy ingredient I saw on the Food Network.

    e) Vegetables, spices and unusual ingredients. 

3) In my free time I like to:

    a) Visit with friends and family.

    b) Organize the house.

    c) Exercise or take a fitness class.

    d) Be spontaneous and seek adventure.

    e) Take part in creative or artistic pursuits.

4) My favorite things to cook are:

    a) Home-baked goodies.

    b) Casseroles.

    c) Foods with fresh ingredients and herbs.

    d) Anything that lets me fire up the grill.

    e) Ethnic foods and wok dishes.

5) Other people describe me as:

    a) Really friendly.

    b) Diligent and methodical.

    c) Health conscious.

    d) Intense.

    e) Curious. 

There may be overlap in the answers you give, but is there one letter that you picked most often? Here’s what your answers say about your cooking style:

a) Giving: Friendly, well-liked and enthusiastic, giving cooks seldom experiment, love baking and like to serve tried-and-true family favorites, although that sometimes means serving less healthful foods.

b) Methodical: Talented cooks who rely heavily on recipes. The methodical cook has refined tastes and manners. Their creations always look exactly like the picture in the cookbook.

c) Healthy: Optimistic, book-loving, nature enthusiasts, healthy cooks experiment with fish, fresh produce and herbs. Health comes first, even if it means sometimes sacrificing taste.

d) Competitive: The Iron Chef of the neighborhood, competitive cooks have dominant personalities and are intense perfectionists who love to impress their guests.

e) Innovative: Creative and trend-setting, innovative cooks seldom use recipes and like to experiment with ingredients, cuisine styles and cooking methods.