The Mental Health Benefits of Cooking Your Own Food

Cooking your own food has been praised for its ability to save money, improve health, and enhance cooking skills. However, many people find cooking to be a chore.

This is understandable, as cooking involves grocery shopping, cleaning up the kitchen, and dealing with the occasional kitchen mishap. But despite the challenges, cooking has been clinically shown to support our mental health.

Here are a few ways cooking your own food can boost your mental well-being, along with some ideas for getting started:

1. Supports a Healthy Diet:

Certain foods can actually improve your mental health. A 2014 study found a connection between poor mental health and an unhealthy diet.

The Mediterranean Diet, for example, is rich in healthy fats, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and minimal red meat. It has been shown to positively impact memory and support proper neurotransmitter functioning.

2. Increases Social Interaction:

Cooking is a great way to connect with others. You can chat with vendors at the market, invite friends and family over for dinner, or take a cooking class.

Socialization linked to cooking has been supported by research. A 2017 study published in the Health Education & Behavior Journal cites cooking as a positive activity used in therapeutic and rehabilitative settings.

3. Boosts Self-Esteem:

When our mental health is suffering, our self-esteem often takes a hit. Cooking can help boost self-esteem by giving us a sense of accomplishment.

Nailing a recipe you've been trying to perfect can give you a significant confidence boost. Even if it's as simple as a three-ingredient dish, cooking can be a significant confidence builder.

4. Helps You Build a Routine:

Routine is so important for our brains that a form of psychotherapy has been formed around it. Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) is a form of psychotherapy mostly used with those with bipolar disorder.

IPSRT acknowledges how life events and shifts in one's daily routine can trigger mental health concerns - in the case of bipolar, it can contribute to the onset of a manic or depressive episode.

This type of therapy encourages individuals to create a schedule of when they go to bed, wake up, and eat, among other daily activities. By following a routine, our circadian rhythm can become more stable.

5. Expands Creativity:

A recent study states that incorporating creative activities into your daily life can significantly boost mood and overall well-being.

Another study identified cooking as a creative activity, going as far as to suggest a correlation between cooking and mood improvement.

How to Get Started:

• Reflect on your favorite foods and try making a simpler version at home.
• Consider taking a cooking class to learn new skills and connect with others.
• Reach out to a loved one who enjoys cooking and ask them to show you some tips and tricks.
• Start small with simple recipes and gradually increase the complexity as you gain confidence.
• Don't be afraid to experiment and have fun in the kitchen.