Cooking Up a Better Life
In my last post, I illustrated how simple cooking can be. However, these days, with the availability of delivery and shelf-stable options, calories are easy to find without the time investment.
So why cook?
You can control what goes into your body by cooking for yourself. You can enrich social connections by cooking for others. You can gain valuable life skills and experiences through a simple and necessary task — cooking. Food is not just what you eat; it’s connected to many facets of existence.
Food is culture
Most obviously, the cuisine we are exposed to grows our palette and understanding of how a particular society approaches food. On a more intimate level, the culture of our childhood experience, from family and friends, also shapes our opinions today. Memories of our meals, good or bad, impact not only what we eat but also how we experience food.
How did your experience with food shape what you choose to eat today?
What were some standard settings in which you consumed your food? Did you eat at a formal table with your family or in front of a TV?
Which ingredients or foods bring you nostalgia? Which ones are you adverse to?
Food is energy
Without food, we would cease to exist. The food you ingest dictates the quality of energy your body can harness and use. It’s the raw material you need to function as a human being. You can’t make a good product with subpar materials, so why would you do yourself a disservice?
What have you been eating today or this past week?
How have certain foods impacted how you feel?
Did consuming that meal feel enjoyable or a chore?
Did you feel energized or sluggish?
Food is art
Food can be anything you consume. It could be as simple as cutting up a piece of fruit or as complex and technical as a soufflé.
To cook is to transform ingredients into a work of art that you’ll use to fuel your life. You don’t have to use the same elements or process each time for a dish. There are many paths to the same destination. The journey of creating your future through food with intention is a joyful one.
What preconceived notions do you have about cooking or the type of person that cooks?
When was the last time you cooked?
What did you make, and did you enjoy the process?