Cooking is not a hobby for everyone. Some people like to put in a lot of effort to make the best dishes, while others put a frozen pizza in the oven to relax after a long day. However, no matter how tedious cooking may feel, it is possible to make time for it. Preparing a meal or baking a sweet treat can have a positive impact on your mental state. It may not make everyone happy, but cooking is good for you. Here’s why:

1) Reward System

Cooking is something that most people do daily, but it is an entirely different experience than folding laundry. This is because the food (to be cooked) is tied to the reward system. When the food is finished, we know that a delicious meal is waiting for us, and when we eat, we feel satisfied.

2) Relaxation

Whether you like to cook or not, preparing food calms your mind. If you concentrate on chopping vegetables, you will feel calmer because you must focus on a simple action. Cooking as a creative therapy to treat people with behavioral problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and ADHD is not a moot point.

3) Cooking Is a Form of Mindfulness

Lisa Bahar, a marriage and family relationship therapist, often encourages her clients to cook together. There’s a lot of mindfulness involved. If you’re aware of the ingredients and how they will get to the table, your mind won’t be filled with worries and minor irritations. Mindfulness also reduces stress and promotes the power of living.

4) Promotes Cooperation and Communication

Cooking with a partner can promote cooperation and communication. Putting food on the table means putting aside the differences and focusing on the task at hand. For example, “OK, I know you like potatoes, so I’ll make potatoes tonight. But next time, I want to make quinoa. It’s an ideal exercise for people who have a hard time compromising.

5) It Can Keep Your Brain Healthy

In recent years, there has been much research on the effects of various nutrients on the brain. In particular, for the brain, omega-3, vitamin B, zinc, iron, and magnesium are beneficial. To get enough nutrients for your brain, it is essential to get accurate information. If you cook for yourself, you have complete control over what you eat.

6) It Can Boost Your Creativity and Confidence

Cooking is a great way to unleash your creativity. Put down the cookbook and ask yourself what your favorite flavors are. Then, get inspired by what comes to mind and the ingredients on your shelf or in your refrigerator. Before you know it, you’ll have your new recipe, and that will give you confidence.

7) Finally, Answer to “What’s There for Dinner?”

If you can cook and enjoy it, you will rarely be confused when faced with the age-old question, “What should I eat? With some ingenuity in the kitchen, we can use what is there to make something edible, if not delicious. We all need food. So why not have some fun and get creative to meet that need?

8) It’s Healthy, and You Know What’s in It

When it comes to food, many packaged foods contain fat, sugar, or both, and are not always healthy, which is another reason to make cooking a hobby. If you cook for yourself, you will know precisely what is in your food. Home cooking is the best way to have a nutritious and safe diet for those with dietary restrictions. You can add ingredients that you like or substitute foods that you cannot or do not like to eat, and you won’t have to worry about any unwanted reactions/allergies.

Do you like to cook? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!