Learn How To Cook: Recap the Rewards of Developing New Skills, Healthy Habits and Cultural Connection
By: Samantha Leonetti, Student Network Representative from Toronto Metropolitan University
Food is at the centre of our world. It’s needed for survival, basic function and overall wellness. Therefore, over the years and many generations, humans have found unique ways to manipulate various ingredients to create fascinating end results. As nutrition students, we are well-versed in the importance of human nutrition in order to function at our best, but if we go a different direction, how we get food in front of us is an extremely important aspect not only nutritionally, but mentally.
Mahamud, L. (n.d.). Why Mental Health Matters [Photograph]. Bridging Cultural Gaps. https://www.bcgwashington.org/blog-posts/why-mental-health-matters.
Learning how to cook develops new and useful skills. Learning how to cook opens many doors, such as making a meal when hungry, experimenting in the kitchen to pass the time productively, and developing a sense of self-efficacy through cooking. Developing self-efficacy is a great mental skill that, in relation to food, can help university students have more positive feelings surrounding healthy food groups like vegetables (French et al., 2024, pg. 7).
Dunn, C. (2019). 5 Essential Rules of Cooking [Photograph]. Eat Smart | Move More Weight Less - Online. https://esmmweighless.com/five-essential-rules-of-cooking/.
Learning to cook develops healthy, structured habits that are overall beneficial for mental health and personal growth. Developing these structured habits associated with cooking can support regular, healthier food consumption as we enter into adulthood, and this is a great time to cement these healthy food related habits and diets (French et al., 2024, pg. 2). These healthy food habits can then support us mentally through proper nutrition, which can boost academic success during the hectic school year.
Purdue Global. (2024). Healthy Food Options for Busy College Students [Photograph]. Purdue Global. https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/student-life/healthy-food-options-college-students/.
Let's be honest, we all have at least one cultural recipe we can remember a family member making that had us waiting on our tippy toes. In the spirit of those memories, cooking culturally is a great way to connect with the generations that have come before us while also reminiscing. Taking the time to connect with our culture through cooking can be positively impactful for mental health, as it fosters cultural pride and a sense of sensory connection (Ensign, 2020).
Ensign, A. (2020). Experiencing World Cuisines and Your Food Heritage [Photograph]. FamilySearch Blog. https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/experiencing-world-cuisines-and-your-food-heritage.
By purposefully making the effort to cook, there are multiple benefits to your mental well-being that can contribute to an overall more positive life. So, take that time and slowly start making the effort to explore the diverse and creative world of cooking!
References
Dunn, C. (2019). 5 Essential Rules of Cooking [Photograph]. Eat Smart | Move More Weight Less - Online. https://esmmweighless.com/five-essential-rules-of-cooking/.
Ensign, A. (2020, March 19). Experiencing World Cuisines and Your Food Heritage. FamilySearch Blog. https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/experiencing-world-cuisines-and-your-food-heritage.
Ensign, A. (2020). Experiencing World Cuisines and Your Food Heritage [Photograph]. FamilySearch Blog. https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/experiencing-world-cuisines-and-your-food-heritage.
French, C. D., Gomez-Lara, A., Hee, A., Shankar, A., Song, N., Campos, M., McCoin, M., & Matias, S. L. (2024). Impact of a Food Skills Course with a Teaching Kitchen on Dietary and Cooking Self-Efficacy and Behaviors among College Students. National Library of Medicine, 16(5), pp. 2 & 7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10933768/.
Mahamud, L. (n.d.). Why Mental Health Matters [Photograph]. Bridging Cultural Gaps. https://www.bcgwashington.org/blog-posts/why-mental-health-matters.
Purdue Global. (2024). Healthy Food Options for Busy College Students [Photograph]. Purdue Global. https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/student-life/healthy-food-options-college-students/.