Cooking As A Therapeutic Tool
Cooking is one of those activities which combines art, technique and knowledge. This is an area where culture and passion come together to become one. To put it simply, we eat the landscape around us. We prepare it on the basis of the traditions and knowledge we have acquired. And we do it based on our relationship with others.
There are several ways of looking at the kitchen. One of them is the most practical, that of the daily day. We cook what we have, as best we can, to meet our food needs. Another way of looking at it is that which arises from its commercial use. Food preparation is also a real business.
However, the most emotional, creative, and social way to view cooking is by enjoying it and letting others benefit from its results. When the food is prepared serenely, with the aim of transmitting a passion and creating a special moment for the people we love. In this case, cooking ceases to be a professional task and becomes a personal expression. It is also transformed into a therapeutic tool.
Sensory awareness, the first contribution of cooking
Cooking is one of those activities that draws on all the senses. These are activated throughout the process, until the end. Sight, hearing, touch and, of course, smell and taste must be activated during this work. The same thing happens at the time of tasting.
In this way, the kitchen becomes a real rainbow of sensations. Therefore, it involves integral experience. It is one of the few current activities which allows this parade of sensory impressions which is always very rewarding.
Cooking is a creative experience
One of the most interesting aspects of cooking is that it is an activity where the results are never the same. A person can cook a dish more than once and it will never be the same. Two people can follow the same recipe and end up with a dish with a different flavor. It is therefore a very personal activity and, therefore, a creative one.
In addition, the kitchen is one of those tasks which admits of an infinite number of variations. It accepts changes at any stage of a process. Whether it is in the preparation of a food, its presentation, the ingredients that are introduced into the recipe, the cooking, the accompaniment that is added … Cooking is a pure creation.
Patience and concentration
Cooking is one of those activities where you follow a process that includes successive stages. More than in any other activity, it is clearly seen that it is necessary to complete one step before starting another. It takes patience. Food and cooking times, for example, do not depend on our will.
When cooking, we perform a lot of tasks, sometimes even simultaneously. While you let the dough rest, for example, you prepare the filling. Or while something is cooking, we get everything ready for the next step. It requires focusing our attention on what we are doing, and only on that. Our ability to concentrate is therefore stimulated.
Problem solving and decision making
Cooking is unpredictable. You may be cooking something and suddenly a little distraction causes the food to cook longer. Or you find that at the end of a step, the food does not have the texture or consistency that you wanted. All of these little problems require solutions. And this exercise of solving difficulties involves a stimulus for your intelligence.
Implicitly, this means that you have to make a lot of decisions during the preparation of a dish. The recipe may say that it should be left in the oven for 10 minutes, but sometimes this is not enough. So you have to analyze the situation and figure out what you are going to do. Cooking increases your ability to make decisions.
It calms and entertains
When you have a positive attitude, cooking becomes a relaxing activity. The important thing is not to cook under stress or expect absolutely perfect results. The ideal is to practice this activity in peace and to remain open-minded to make the most of the experience.
Cooking as a couple or with friends can be a very fun and enjoyable experience. Likewise, serving a dish that has been made with our own hands can be very rewarding. If you want it, the situation can therefore be extremely appreciable!
We don’t have to be experts to start cooking. All you need is good will and a basic plan. It is an activity that takes place at home and is accessible to anyone. Moreover, its psychological and social benefits are undeniable. So why not get started?
Our thoughts Beyond knowing whether the food we eat is healthy or not for our body, cooking is an activity in itself that can …
