Gone are the days of cooking being a tedious daily chore. Cooking shows, celebrity chefs, food gardens… so many modern trends have been bringing the sexy back to food. And here’s another one: how conscious cooking can have a positive effect on other areas of your life.
Ethical eating
More and more people are joining the ethical food movement, informing themselves about where their food comes from, how it is grown, by whom and where. Educating themselves about food systems invariably lead to conscious decisions and peace of mind.
Responsible consumption
As clichéd as this sounds, meal preparation strengthens mindful, conscious consumption. Planning the meal well ahead helps you focus on what to purchase, how long the food shelf life will be and what will and won’t be wasted.
Nutrition control
Conscious cooking also means being familiar with the nutritional and health benefits of the ingredients that you choose. There’s nothing negative to say about cooking for nourishment.
Selecting nutrient-dense foods and quality ingredients, as well as eating according to the seasons, create flavourful meals for nourishment.
Stimulate the senses
Cleaning your kitchen and creating a space of inspiration and creativity helps to get you in the cooking mood. Then comes the happy experience: the feel of a fresh tomato, the burst of smells as you chop your herbs, the sounds in the pot, the colours on your plate and the taste of the finished product. Pure emotional pleasure. (Of course a sip of wine also helps!)
Meaningful connections
A meal shared with family or friends strengthens relationships and our sense of community. And if you have a friend who grows their own food, it’s hard to miss their joy and pride when they bring you a bowl of something from their food garden. It’s contagious!
Gratitude
Food can inspire a peaceful sense of gratitude for the gift of having something to eat; for the journey of the food on your plate and all the people involved in its production; for your body being able to be nourished.
Kitchens have indeed become healing spaces. Enjoy!
This article was written by Siyabonga Mngoma and published by Abundance Wholesome Foods.
