Cooking with our Family, a Good Plan for the Holidays.

BY: Neighbors’ Consejo|

The kitchen and the act of cooking is a space where we can meet to share with our loved ones, because around delicious dishes, we tell our stories to each other, anecdotes, dreams and plans. So, why is it important to carry out this activity for these Holidays?

The Wall Street [1]  Journal reports, “Therapists are now recommending cooking classes as a way to treat depression and anxiety, as well as eating disorders, ADHD [2]  and addiction”. “Psychologist believe that cooking and baking are therapeutic because they fit a type of therapy known as “behavioral activation [3] ”. Additionally, in the study “Chef’s kiss: Research shows healthy home cooking equals a healthy mind [4] ”, it is mentioned that baking classes boosted confidence and increased concentration.

Moreover, in the article “everyday creative activity as a path to flourishing [5] ”, it’s suggested that “people who frequently take on small, creative projects like baking or cooking report feeling more relaxed and happier in their everyday lives. The research followed 658 people for about two weeks and found that small, everyday projects in the kitchen made the group feel more enthusiastic about their pursuits the next day”.

“Cooking at home, or other places is good for your mental health because cooking is an act of patience, mindfulness, an outlet for creative expression, a means of communication, and helps to raise one’s self esteem as the cook can feel good about doing something positive for their family, themselves or loved ones.” –Julie Ohana, LMSW and founder of Culinary Art Therapy in West Bloomfield, Michigan [6] .

The blog Livekindly [7]  tell us “7 ways cooking can boost your mental health”:

1. Feelings of Accomplishment. When you cook for yourself or other people, you are setting an achievable goal for yourself.
2. Exercise your creativity. People who engage in creative pursuits –writing, doodling, singing, and cooking- appear to lead happier lives.
3. Patience. Cooking at home requires patience across multiple steps.
4. Connect with others. If you are cooking with family or friends, deciding who is taking on which task can be a lot of fun and a practice in delegating tasks.
5. Improve your relationship with food. For example, children whose parents invite them to cook with them think positively about healthy food.
6. Get healthier. People who cook at home tend to eat healthier than those who go out to eat weekly.
7. Get organized. Once you have nailed the basics, cooking at home for the majority of the week can help improve your organization and mindfulness.

In conclusion, go and cook turkey, cookies, and desserts [8] with those you love and then you will see how the best recipe for your mental wellbeing is to share with others.

References

 [1]https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-road-to-mental-health-through-the-kitchen-1418059204

 [2]https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html#:~:text=ADHD%20is%20one%20of%20the,)%2C%20or%20be%20overly%20active.

 [3]https://www.southernliving.com/healthy-living/mind-body/cooking-therapy-mental-health#:~:text=Cooking%20Improves%20Emotional%20Wellbeing,-Being%20creative%20for&text=Cooking%20can%20be%20so%20good,eating%20disorders%2C%20ADHD%20and%20addiction.

 [4]https://www.ecu.edu.au/newsroom/articles/research/chefs-kiss-research-shows-healthy-home-cooking-equals-a-healthy-mind

 [5]https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17439760.2016.1257049?cookieSet=1

 [6]https://www.livekindly.com/7-surprising-ways-cooking-can-boost-your-mental-health/

 [7]https://www.livekindly.com/7-surprising-ways-cooking-can-boost-your-mental-health/

 [8]https://www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/packages/holidays