Why mindfulness belongs in the kitchen

I hear it often, regardless of age, a statement I understand but believe to my core can be overcome.

What statement, you ask?

"I don't like to cook."  or some variation of that.

Yes, cooking could be seen as a chore, one so easily done away with in our modern society due to convenience foods only a phone call or tap of an app away. 

But I would ask, at what expense? 

Are we not sacrificing our health for this convenience?

You don't have to look hard for an article or research stating how ultra-processed foods are harming our health. I think many already knew this, but look the other way, because they feel they have no other choice. 

I get it, I really do. 

You are getting home from work, the laundry is piled high, the kids need to be chauffeured to their after-school activities, and all you want to do is unwind and put your feet up.

What if the answer was not in the drive-thru or the take-away?

What if the answer to find the way back into the kitchen was partly a mindset shift? 

By now, if you have read this far, you might be wondering what the video linked to this blog has to do with the message. I put it there to give you a "Where to Start" suggestion. But you don't need to cook that recipe or follow my video.  There are many others creating content around healthy meals. Find a fun one that resonates with you and get cooking. 

When we can start seeing the act of cooking as a positive, it reaps dividends way beyond just the preparation of the meal. The very act of cutting, peeling, and sautéing could be part of a daily meditation practice. And daily meditation has been shown to reduce stress, and lead to greater health outcomes. 

But you might be asking, "How am I supposed to enjoy cooking, with the chaos of the home all around?"

I can't be exact in the answer - everyone's life situation is different - but I can offer a few suggestions.  

• Get the family involved in the meal preparation. Giving kids task and responsibilities has been well documented to bring better life outcomes in confidence, anxiety, and resilience. 
• Partly prep in the morning, then finish the dish just before dinner.
• Choose easy, quick recipes that can be done, start to finish in 30 minutes. Way faster than the pizza delivery, and will be far healthier and likely still warm when it hits the dinner table.
• Play some music that can bring energy into the room.
• Light a candle for a soothing mood.
• Give yourself permission to mess up.

This is of course not an exhaustive list of what you could do to bring a sense of joy to mealtime preparation, but I hope this can spark some ideas. 

Need more help creating mindfulness around meals? Reach out or book a free 30-minute session to boost your new habit.