Early research shows that the simple act of cooking could have a positive impact on our wellbeing. So, why does this link exist, and how can we capitalise on it?
Cooking can sometimes seem like drudgery, a rushed affair at the end of the day. However, what if we consider it differently: an opportunity to slow down, to enjoy taste and flavour, and to really be in the moment? Doing so could harness the positive effects of cooking on our health and wellbeing. It’s a relatively new form of mental health support, but interest is rapidly growing. So, if you want to try an approach to self-regulation (getting yourself out of threat response and back to “rest and digest” mode), maybe it’s time to get creative in the kitchen?
Perhaps you can remember a time when cooking something delicious made you feel a sense of accomplishment, or when getting absorbed in preparing food took your mind off a problem? This is because cooking has the potential to improve both our quality of life and our global sense of self, either through gaining cooking confidence, or improved relationships through sharing food, or engaging with others regarding recipes.
Tempted to try it out? Here are some ideas to start harnessing the benefits of cooking:
Seek inspiration
The repeated dilemma, day after day, of what to cook for dinner can be overwhelming. You could try implementing the concept of a ‘chef’s date’. Perhaps you have heard of the concept of ‘the artist’s date’, from the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. It’s a once-weekly date to nurture your inner artist to boost creativity. If you feel uninspired about cooking, then feeding your inner cook can be one way to bring back pleasure and inspiration to cooking and food. Choose an activity that might inspire your cooking creativity. Some ideas could include:
- Take a wander around your nearby area and browse the menus outside restaurants
- Look at cookbooks in your local library
- Flick through cookery magazines or websites
- Watch a cookery YouTube channel or listen to a food podcast
- Take a virtual online trip to a food destination like London, New York, or Paris, and look at the menus of restaurants online – what’s on the menu and how could you create a simpler version at home?
Having something to prepare, which inspires and uplifts you, can already be a mood booster. It’s no longer about preparing something just because you must, but because it’s going to be delicious!
Slow preparation
Slow cooking can give you an opportunity to enjoy the process. Is there a podcast, audiobook, or video on YouTube that you’d like to listen to? Some upbeat music, or just some well-needed silence? Choosing something to stimulate your mind can stop cooking from being a means to an end and transform it into a moment to enjoy. Choose a time to cook when you aren’t in a rush, for example, a weekend afternoon when you don’t have anything planned. The slower you go, the more relaxed you may feel. You could try sitting at the kitchen table to chop or having a moment in the open air if you have a garden or balcony. You could try pre-preparing everything in small bowls like they do on cooking programmes and that way there’s no sudden rush to get everything ready.
Tasting as you go
Are you the kind of person who likes to follow a recipe, or do you prefer to experiment a little? Tasting food as you go can give you the opportunity to slow down and experience the pleasure of heightened sensory awareness. If you really want to freestyle, be like a perfumier, and just open your spice cupboard. Toast some spices with some oil and taste and smell them. Notice the flavour and aroma of the spices on their own, and then in different combinations. You can see what each spice contributes and understand why, for example, cumin, coriander seed, and garam masala are so often together in Indian cooking.
So, next time you have a few hours to spare, why not step into your kitchen, see what’s available, and seek out a bit of creative input to conjure up something to tickle your tastebuds? It might just boost your mood too and bring some extra cheer to the festive season.
