There are all sorts of benefits to cooking your own meals from scratch – especially in today’s world, where more and more people are getting the majority of their calories in via questionable processed meals that have frequently been linked to assorted health problems.
Not only does cooking a meal from scratch give you full control over what it is you’re actually putting in your body, but it also helps you to express meaningful elements of your culture – and to sample elements of the cultures of others, too.
One of the big benefits of cooking, though, is that can be used as a meditative practice – if you approach it in the right way, at least.
So, research some Made In Cookware Reviews, get yourself a set of pots, pans and utensils, and get ready to cook.
Here’s how to treat cooking as a meditative experience.
Don’t cook in a rush or a frenzy, allow yourself enough time to really engage with the process
It’s likely impossible for anything to really be much of a “meditative experience” if it’s done in a panicked frenzy, where the emphasis is on getting the process wrapped up as quickly and efficiently as possible.
These days, many people are constantly rushed off their feet, and don’t allow much – if any – time for really cooking with intentionality.
In fact, according to the USDA, American spend an average of just 37 minutes a day in total on preparing and serving food, and cleaning up afterwards.
In order to treat cooking as a meditative experience, you have to allow yourself a good chunk of time where you can absorb yourself in the process without feeling rushed. That might mean moving things around and freeing up an extra hour or two in the evening to spend on preparing your meals.
Take pride in what you’re cooking, and use recipes that intrigue and inspire you
For cooking to be a meditative experience, you should take pride in what you’re cooking, and should use recipes that intrigue and inspire you.
A major part of the practice of “meditation” has to do with giving your full attention to a particular object of focus, and to allowing it to fill your awareness.
Suffice to say, if you don’t really care about what you’re cooking, you’re more likely to find the process dull, and to struggle to focus in an intentional way.
Cultivate a real sense of curiosity and interest about the process of cooking
A sense of curiosity and interest is a major cornerstone of many successful meditation practices – as these things allow you to more easily absorb yourself in what it is you’re doing, and to notice the small and fascinating details that we normally overlook in the course of everyday life.
So, get fascinated in the process of cooking. Strive to understand more about the details of how different recipes work, and how different cooking techniques work. Take a moment to really appreciate and marvel at the changing texture, appearance, and taste of the meal as it cooks.
