Cooking as a Mindfulness Exercise
Food has always been an important part of my life. Growing up Italian American, most of my family time was spent in the kitchen or around a table. Many of my core memories involve a meal. I love cooking, but I don’t pretend I’m a professional chef. I don’t have knife skills or tons of gadgets – I don’t even have a Kitchen Aid mixer! But I make a few things really well (including some family recipes I’m trying to keep alive), and I enjoy the process.
These days, I try to cook with intention by making it a mindful moment. Living with multiple sclerosis, it’s critical that I keep my stress levels low, and while I try to regularly meditate and practice mindfulness, I’m not always great at sticking with a routine. So, to supplement my non-routine, I’ve tried mindful cooking – essentially, being totally present in the moment and letting my senses kick in.
When I’m ready to start cooking, I clear a space on the counter and get all of my ingredients and tools ready. I don’t answer emails and try not to answer texts. I might put on a TV show, but it’s either something I’ve seen a million times or one where I generally don’t have to pay much attention since it’s more for noise than anything else.
Once I start cooking, I let my senses kick in. Cooking is a lot more enjoyable when you concentrate on how good it smells, the sound of something sizzling in a pan, the colors and textures of the food – and of course, the taste of a nibble here and there (you have to make sure it tastes good!). When I’m zoned in, I’m less stressed because I’m not thinking about anything else. The act of cooking makes me happy, and I feel accomplished when the meal is ready. Preparing a meal for someone is also how I express my love for them.
Whether or not you live with MS or another chronic illness, I encourage you to give cooking with mindfulness a try. We all have a lot to think about all the time, and sometimes our minds just need a break. Making a delicious meal can be one way to quiet the racing thoughts and get lost in your senses.
If you don’t like cooking or don’t know where to start when it comes to mindful cooking, here are my tips:
- Start easy. You aren’t competing on Top Chef. Even if you start with a PB&J, just focus on what you’re doing to make it a mindful experience.
- Make a meal you love. This way, you know you’ll want to eat it and you’ll enjoy all that effort.
- Follow a recipe. There is no shame in using a recipe – you want it to taste good! I highly recommend NYT Cooking. As you start to cook more, you might also find some food bloggers you really like (my personal fav is Love & Lemons). As you get more comfortable, experiment a little – add a few dashes of a different spice, throw in a vegetable…
- Make it a fully mindful experience using the 54321 exercise. Activate all of your senses!
Share your mindful cooking experiences in the comments! And please pass along any recipes you love!
