Cooking is something many people either love doing or consider a chore. A previous survey has revealed that 45 percent of Americans outright despise cooking, while only 10 percent admit to enjoying it. Additionally, Americans spent nearly $3,500 on takeout and restaurant bills in 2019.
For parents of young children, especially, there seems to be a constant rush to prepare meals and satisfy the taste buds of picky eaters. The same rush tends to occur after a long workday when you’re exhausted and faced with whipping up dinner. Adding dietary restrictions into the mix can make cooking seem like an even bigger hassle.
Even if you’re one of the few who are genuinely passionate about cooking, your mind may wander as you mix ingredients and saute your food. We quickly become distracted by our thoughts and feelings—perhaps by our inner dialogue, as well.
However, cooking provides an excellent teaching moment to train our minds to be more present and aware. From gathering your ingredients to cooking your meal and even eating the finished product, mindful cooking is a meditative experience.
What is mindful cooking?
If you’re wondering what mindful cooking is, it’s basically a chance to slow down, clear your mind and focus on the task at hand.
A few things happen when you cook mindfully. First, you enhance your relationship with the food before you and grow more aware of your senses. You might pay greater attention to the food’s texture in your hands, how you mold it, the way it smells and the heat it gives off as you stand over your stovetop.
A deepening awareness of your activity can provide some extra energy and excitement to cooking, which will make you appreciate your meal entirely when it’s ready to eat.
How to cook mindfully
Creating a mindful cooking practice is deeply personal, but generally speaking, you’ll want to minimize as many distractions as possible. Consider silencing your phone and turning off the TV and radio before beginning.
You might also want to take a few deep breaths to calm yourself from the day’s stresses. Studies have shown that breathwork has positive effects on regulating the nervous system, increasing concentration and helping to balance our emotional responses.
Pay close attention to the sizzling, popping or bubbling that occurs when you’re stirring a pot of soup, or recognize the way raw meat changes colours as it cooks all the way through. How does the smell of the food change? Is it more potent? Does it evoke a particular memory or emotion from childhood?
Visualizing love and gratitude for your food is another huge component of mindful cooking, whether you’re making something from scratch or simply pouring sauce over a dish.
4 major benefits of mindful cooking
Regardless of whether you’re new to mindful cooking, are on the fence about starting a practice, or have already mastered the art of meditative slicing and dicing, here are four reasons being present while cooking makes it more enjoyable.
It’s a form of self-care
Let’s say you’re trying a recipe for the first time. Mindful cooking can help build your confidence and increase your self-esteem as you cook. It might also encourage you to eat at home more often than you order takeout or dine in a restaurant.
The act of cooking food to take care of and feed yourself is essential. Cooking suddenly becomes an act of self-care when you’re aware of what you’re doing, and it’s a reminder of how important you are.
As you mindfully prepare a meal, think about how you’re nourishing your body and making yourself feel best with the food you’re making. Mindful cooking could even lead to mindful eating, which will allow you to slow down and focus your attention on ingesting good foods more healthfully.
It’s a way to relax
Mindfulness meditation has, for a long time, been considered an effective method of promoting relaxation. Science has also backed the notion that mindfulness decreases depression and anxiety both directly and indirectly.
Staying more present while cooking is likely to induce a meditative state, and this state can then act as a therapeutic tool for finding more profound meaning and purpose. In a way, the act of cooking encourages introspection through enhanced focus.
It’s also a way to revisit happier memories and generate a more positive mood overall. Mindfulness quiets rapid thinking and worries, while easing you into a more relaxed state.
It helps nurture others
Our altruistic nature tells us to show up for other people whenever possible. Theoretical research has indicated that acts of kindness boost mental health and block negative moods.
As you express gratitude for your food, you can also be grateful for the chance to nurture others with your cooking. Food is loaded with nutrients that keep us healthy, so when you mindfully prepare a hearty meal for loved ones, you’ll provide them with essential minerals and vitamins for improved health.
A home-cooked meal fulfills the primal need to survive and the satisfaction you feel from giving back. Essentially, staying present while cooking with the intent of nurturing is similar to the feeling we get while helping somebody. You provide support with sustenance, which everyone needs to endure.
It aids with building bonds
Although mindful cooking may seem like more of an individualized practice, it can still foster bonds between yourself and others. Cooking has traditionally brought people together, increasing a sense of culture while building community and connection.
Even if the person you’re cooking for isn’t present in the room, mindfulness can bring about a sense of closeness and intimacy, as you’ll be expressing your love for them through cooking.
On the other hand, you could create a mindful cooking practice with another person or group of people, such as your spouse, your kids or your roommates. Assigning them their own dishes to make mindfully can boost the connection between all of you.
Mindful cooking takes time to learn
Mindful cooking could be a challenge for some people who’ve never tried it before—especially if you’re often stressed or have a lot on your mind. It takes time to learn to be fully present as you prepare a meal.
The best way to approach mindful cooking is to start small with a few deep breaths, while taking notice of your surroundings with your five senses. By staying present and routinely practicing mindfulness as you move about your kitchen, you’ll find that cooking will suddenly become far more enjoyable for you.
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