Lea Michele’s Favorite Recipes and Why She Prefers Cooking to Eating Out
Lea Michele likes to cook during her free time. Here are some of the Glee star’s favorite recipes and why she prefers cooking to eating out.
Lea Michele enjoys cooking
Lea Michele loves to stay in and whip up a quick meal. In her book, Brunette Ambition, Michele says she enjoys making simple meals instead of something complicated.
“I really love to cook, but in a fairly simple way,” says Michele. “When friends come over, I don’t always pull out all the stops—while my friends don’t need me to impress them with culinary fireworks, I find that these easy-to-make recipes delight, nonetheless. Down-home favorites are the best complement to a comfy night at home.”
Lea Michele says her mother taught her to respect her body by eating well
Michele got her appreciation for healthy food from her mother. She says her mom taught her to respect her body by eating well. “My mother always taught me to respect my body—that you’re only given one and should take the best care of it that you can,” writes Michele. “I’ve really listened to her: I never treat my body like a garbage disposal and instead try to feed it only the best possible food.”
Although Michele eats healthy meals, she also allows herself to have cheat days. She won’t be hard on herself about having a slice of pizza now and then.
Clearly, it’s important to find moderation, and with moderation most certainly comes the occasional indulgence. There are definitely days when I need to eat an entire Amy’s frozen pizza in front of the television. Because I generally maintain a good balance throughout the week, I never give myself a hard time about these moments. In fact, I usually turn Saturday or Sunday into a cheat day, and I love those days.
Lea Michele in ‘Brunette Ambition’
Cooking is one of Lea Michele’s favorite ways to unwind
When stress levels are high, Michele says she likes to hit the kitchen and make a meal. Cooking is how she unwinds. She turns to soup and grilled cheese sandwiches when she’s in the mood for comfort food.
I grew up in a family where love is best expressed through food, so being in the kitchen is one of my favorite ways to unwind. My ultimate comfort food? Hearty soup or grilled cheese sandwiches—eaten while watching reality TV. Whether you find your calm through a delicious snack, a long run, or a phone call with a friend, don’t let the stress of the outside world impose on your sense of perspective.
Lea Michele in ‘Brunette Ambition’
Lea Michele’s favorite recipes and why she prefers cooking to eating out
Michele likes to make egg in a hole, vegan jalapeño grilled cheese sandwiches, and Mediterranean nachos. The actor says she cooks for her friends as a way to show love. She says it feels more special if she cooks a meal than if she takes her friends to a restaurant.
Cooking is very important to me—it’s one of the biggest ways that I display love for people. My favorite thing to do is to open my home to friends and show them how much I care through home-cooked meals.
While it’s always nice to text and call and reach out to make sure that all of your friends are doing well, it’s always important to make an extra effort—making everyone dinner is so much more special than hitting a local restaurant. It takes time and energy, but it’s so worth it.
Lea Michele in ‘Brunette Ambition’
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