Cooking Gives You More than Just Delicious Food
Everyone always loves a hot meal. Whether you have just come in from a long workday to sit down to dinner or to go out with friends in celebration of some big event, it is a pretty fair bet that food will play some part in what happens next.
The art of cooking has been around for hundreds of years, and it’s constantly changing and evolving nature makes it a terribly interesting ritual.
Have you ever wondered why good food seems to always place someone in a good mood? Why we feel nostalgic for mom’s home cooking? Well, it may be that there are even more benefits to the art of cooking than simply a hot and delicious meal.
The Culture of Cooking
First, let’s look at the cultural impact and history of cooking. To go far in depth on this particular topic would take many days, I’m sure. Cooking has been an art and a form of expression in so many different facets of culture that the idea is simply staggering. Many different cultures around the world have used food as a form of expression and even a way to communicate with others who might not speak the same language.
Sharing your cooking with someone else, and even more so if they cannot verbally communicate with you, is an amazing thing. It allows cultural barriers to be crossed very easily. Everyone the world over can appreciate good food.
Through its presentation, food can be used to convey certain things that might be more difficult to say with words. Another facet of cooking that is very fascinating is the aspect of altruism in cooking.
Using cooking as a way to connect with other people, can have positive effects on mental health. You can cook to show that you care about someone or wish to celebrate them as was previously mentioned. For myself, I can say that watching someone else enjoy a dish that I have created and seeing their enjoyment of that dish is one of the greatest feelings in the world.
That's Not Where it Ends
Quite similar to the altruism aspect of cooking, there is the idea of granting rewards. One of the best things that I enjoy most about cooking, as an avid chef myself, is the fact that after the hard work of creating a great dish, the end result is that you get to enjoy it. It is a dynamic of delayed gratification for great reward.
Another positive aspect of cooking on mental health is the fact that it can be an outlet for energy.
All the energy that a person could be spending devoting to thoughts or actions that would be harmful to them, they channel into an activity that is productive, enjoyable and yields great results at its end.
The way that cooking evolves, not only over time but even from person-to-person, is quite an interesting aspect as well. While it’s true that many cookbooks already give amazing recipes for different food, that’s not the end of it.
For myself, and for many other chefs all over the world I’m sure, one of the greatest aspects of cooking is its evolving nature. Any dish created anywhere can follow the recipe.A chef can also add a personal touch which makes the dish truly unique to that particular cook.
There is a great sense of accomplishment that can be brought on by the creation of a truly unique dish.
The number of variables that are possible to contribute to the recipe are truly huge. As a result, the act of cooking is also a mental exercise. I usually make the comparison to putting together a puzzle or a game of Tetris. It is up to the chef to decide how much they want to follow the straight recipe or to add their own flair.
Health and Home
Perhaps the most obvious benefit to home cooking is its health benefits. If someone is taking the time to buy ingredients and make homemade dishes not only are they eating healthier because they are not eating out at a restaurant, but they are also saving a bit of money.
Organizational skills can also be improved through the active cooking. In any recipe, there are certain steps to follow. While it is true that it is ultimately up to the chef whether to stay with the recipe or not, the step-by-step process of the recipe requires mindfulness and good recall of memory. That is one reason why practicing your cooking over time will improve your overall skill.
When you have spent time and effort in creating a unique dish, whether for yourself or for someone else, your confidence level will also increase.
The chef takes pride in what they have created and you are able to share it with other people as well. Cooking is a timeless thing.
At the end of the day, cooking is something that can bring many people together in many different ways and every day and dish is different.
It is a true art form that holds many benefits and is not likely to disappear anytime soon. Bon appétit everyone!
