4 reasons you should really learn to cook

“It’s completely transforming,” says McCarthy, author of “Joyous Health: Eat and Live Well Without Dieting.” “I often tell people, ‘Do you want to feel better? Do you want to have more energy?’ Because great health starts in the kitchen.”

Trust me: As a frequent restaurant patron, I feel your pain. But nearly every nutritionist I’ve spoken to has echoed McCarthy’s sentiment.

“There are so many reasons … ,” celebrity nutritionist Kimberly Snyder says before launching into a long list.

Here are the four big ones:

You’ll find it’s easier than you think

“If you can read, you can cook,” McCarthy says. “I don’t think you need talent because there are so many amazing cookbooks out there.”

Start simply — with a breakfast smoothie or one dinner a week. Then build up your repertoire. Though you may dream of mimicking your favorite “Top Chef” techniques, grilling a few chicken breasts and steaming broccoli is fast and nutritious.

“The simplest foods are the healthiest,” Snyder says.

CNN