Cooking Up a Fresh Perspective

This is partly caused by structural changes in your brain that were caused by regular uses of substances and other addictive processes. Parts of your prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for attention and self-control, has been weakened by this change. Essentially, your brain has trouble keeping interest in anything other than your chosen vice. This often results in emotional numbness, poor concentration, lack of motivation, irritability, or depression.

It might be an organ, but your brain is a lot like a muscle. It gets stronger the more you use it. Cooking can be a great way to get your brain back into shape. Cooking combines high-level cognitive skills (like planning, timing, and attention to detail) with low-level cognitive skills (like taste, touch, and smell). It can be as simple as boiling a pot of rice or as complex as cooking an elaborate meal for friends. No matter the complexity, the cognitive skills are still present.

The more complex the meal is, the more you’ll have to multitask and think on your feet. You’ll have to estimate the best timing so all the food is ready at the same time. Though demanding, this is often a fun way to challenge your brain. You’ll also have a built-in incentive to do a good job. You get to eat the end result! This allows you to destress because you can focus on the task at hand and be rewarded for your effort. It also counters procrastination by providing positive, goal-oriented actions and behavior.

Exuding creativity in the kitchen can have even greater positive effects on your mental health. Home cooking lets you experiment and discover how each ingredient plays a role. Even if you’re following a recipe, you can try swapping out ingredients. Use sweet potatoes instead of carrots in one dish or parsley instead of coriander in another. The world is your oyster! Pun intended. Besides, the best chefs say that recipes are just suggestions.

Cooking is a great way to strengthen that connection. Home-cooked meals are more intimate and you’ll have better control over what goes into them. That way you can avoid triggers you might encounter while eating out. No need to worry about the table next to you sharing a couple of bottles of wine or telling tales of past sexual conquests.

Cooking for others is an extremely rewarding experience on its own. But including others in the cooking process can improve communication and the sense of community. Deciding who’s taking on which task can be a lot of fun and is good practice in delegating tasks. However, keep in mind family and friend dynamics that could be potential triggers for you when planning a cooking party. Check out our article on evaluating and avoiding triggers to help handle those situations.

Learning to cook for yourself more can have a positive impact on your relationship with food. You can then pass this healthy relationship on to your friends and family. Dr. Susan Moore, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, shared that “children whose parents invite them to cook with them think positively about healthy food.” Even if you don’t have children, it’s still a perspective on life that we should want for ourselves and those around us.

The satisfaction of cooking a healthy meal coupled with the reward of eating together can create a rush of healthy self-inflation. With its heavy meaning culturally, ethnically and religiously, it’s no surprise that cooking has so much therapeutic value. It brings people together. Whether it’s shopping for the food, cooking the meal, or eating together and socializing, we can share in recovery together.