Cooking can be a lot of fun, but it’s more than just another hobby to while away the time. In fact, in recent years, some therapists have been recommending cooking classes to their patients as a way to ease their anxiety and depression. It allows people to be creative, it helps them take their minds off their troubles, and it gives them a sense of accomplishment. And once they’re done, they’ll have a delicious meal on their table.
This same love for cooking is what drives every Foodini personal chef in New Jersey. We know that cooking isn’t just about food–it’s about creativity and connecting with others. Here’s a few ways that cooking can benefit you emotionally.
1. Cooking Makes You Feel More Confident
As Southern Living points out, people who take up cooking as a hobby enjoy greater feelings of self-confidence. Every time you cook a meal for yourself, you’re giving yourself a feeling of accomplishment. Often we tell ourselves “I don’t know how to cook, and I’ll never learn!” “Cooking is too difficult!” “You’d have to be a professional chef to make that!” Some of the more elaborate dishes, like the ones offered by corporate caterers in NJ, might take months or years to perfect. But virtually anyone can make a simple dish like grilled chicken or baked ziti. You’ll learn new skills, figure out how to use kitchen equipment, and decide that maybe cooking isn’t so difficult after all. And the more you learn, the more your confidence grows.
2. Cooking Takes Your Mind off Your Troubles
Working in the kitchen can be so intensive that it’s hard to think about anything else. You’ve got to mix the ingredients, throw the meat on the grill, check the dish in the oven, whisk and fold the dry ingredients, make the dough, drop the meat in the fryer…the list goes on. If you’re cooking a large meal, you don’t have time to stand around and dwell on your problems. When you get invested in cooking, you’ll find that your troubles float out the window as you focus on the immediate task in front of you. And when the meal is over and you resume your regular duties, you might realize that the issues that were haunting you aren’t such a big deal after all.
3. Cooking Puts You in a Good Mood
There’s no happiness like the joy of creation. Think about the times you worked on something you were passionate about: a book, a painting, a website, a business, etc. It was stressful at times, but even the stressful times were bearable because you were doing what you loved. If you enjoy cooking, it’s no different from making art. You’re creating something that others can enjoy, and you’ll feel happy knowing that you’ve enriched their lives. Cooking also gives you the opportunity to get creative and play around with the ingredients. If you’re not afraid to experiment, you might find yourself coming up with new recipes that are all your own!