Happy in the Kitchen !

Over recent weeks some of us have found living with the many changes to our life that Covid 19 has made, stressful. For some, finding things to do has not been easy, where others have been discovering the delights of art, craft and cooking. Reading around a lot of blogs it seems many have been experimenting more with recipes, sometimes from choice, sometimes by necessity when items have not been available in the shops. But did you know cooking can help make you happy and can help with mental well being … read on to find out more.

"Why Cooking Makes You Happy

Is cooking the recipe for mental wellbeing?
Take mindfulness, creativity and a dash of focus. Fold together gently, bake in a slow oven and watch your spirits rise. Yes, your time spent in the kitchen can enhance your mood and promote mental wellbeing. While cooking is clearly a means to satisfy the body’s need for food, it’s increasingly being recognised as a way of nurturing the mind. A study in the International Journal of Humanities and Social Science looked at the therapeutic qualities of cooking as a hobby, including its reported ability to cause a dimmed sense of time and an altered sense of consciousness. The researchers found that the act of cooking improves a person’s wellbeing and is associated with life satisfaction. Additionally, they discovered that cooking was the best predictor of subjective happiness. For some, time spent in the kitchen engrossed in baking and cooking may be exactly the recipe needed for greater happiness and mental wellbeing.

Getting creative
The kitchen offers endless opportunities to express your creativity and find your flow. Ever noticed how two people can follow the same recipe and end up with different results? Part of why this happens can be attributed to the invisible element that is part of every recipe: creativity. If you suffer from anxiety or low moods, cooking could help increase your happiness. Spending time in the kitchen can ease stress and restlessness, and enhance mindfulness, the study concluded.

Make your cake (and eat it)
Not only does the process of cooking and baking improve moods, the feeling of satisfaction gained when seeing the end product naturally enhances happiness. You’ve created something tangible that can be enjoyed and shared, giving yourself a well-deserved sense of achievement. Psychological therapist Annie Gurton says the outcome of cooking goes further than a sense of accomplishment – it can satisfy the emotional need for purpose and meaning in our lives. “Cooking is a task that requires a combination of several skills – understanding and planning, attention to detail, using our memory and imagination, manual dexterity, creativity and style.”

3 steps to bliss in the kitchen

Find your confidence first: find something simple you enjoy making, and master it. Then move onto more difficult recipes. 
Grow your own ingredients: picking fresh herbs and vegetables and adding them to your dish gives an even greater sense of pride and achievement. 
Cultivate mindfulness: smell the ingredients, feel the texture, notice what happens when you mix different foods together. Take notice of all the senses."

The above from article here 

I couldn't resist sharing this photograph of two of our grandchildren. In the midst of home-schooling (due to schools being shut because of Covid 19) with school work done it was time for baking fun and some Little Mermaid Cup Cakes, a yummy treat. 

If you may be looking for a quick yummy treat why not try a low carb Chocolate Muffin - in a mug - you can microwave or oven-bake; more details here 

Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan