I am bias of course but I am very grateful to have the knowledge and ability to cook a range of dishes. It has literally been lifesaver in more ways than one throughout my life. But today I'm starting to look at the Mental Health benefits of cooking and the impact it can have.
One of the benefits of learning to cook for your mental health is the ability to allow you to focus on something creative and to set a goal towards making a dish or meal. When I experienced being low, sad or even just depressed, cooking has always been able to bring me back to some sort of normality.
The main experience I felt was the sense of achievement. Going on my own personal experiences, making a meal gives me immediate gratification. For example baking a cake always puts a smile on my face and for the others who are lucky enough to enjoy my baking delights too!
I also get a sense of completion as well. When I follow a recipe or just create a dish from what's in the fridge, knowing that I was able to follow it through and make something edible and tasty provides such satisfaction even during my low moments.
Cooking has also given me a distraction to refocus my thoughts. Back in March when my Dad died due to Covid-19, the shock of his death hit me gradually. Unlike for my Mum which was devastating to the point she wouldn't even get out of bed. I made a decision that I would take care of her and make sure she would at least eat something everyday as the days past by which nearly 6 months before I travelled back to Paris.
I remember organising myself in the mornings, waking up to my alarm and making her breakfast, no matter what state I was in or how I felt. I had a sense of purpose during my time of grief. Mum had always taken care of us (me, my brother and Dad), as the cook of the house. My sense of duty kicked in and I did what came naturally to me which was to cook. Eventually it all became routine for me; planning out the meals for the week, the once a week "masked-wearing" food shopping during lockdown with my brother and so on for the weeks to follow. But I discovered my cooking was really my self-expression of love, especially when it was too emotionally difficult to speak about my grief.
But for now I can say cooking is more than being self-sufficient for me. It is now integral to my life and I'm grateful to my parents who taught me the basics. Also many others like Delia Smith, Nigella Lawson, Jamie Oliver and many more who have inspired me to just get cooking.
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