Cooking mindfully is about fully engaging with the process of preparing meals. It emphasises awareness, intentionality and enjoyment, turning cooking into a deep sensory experience.
A beginner's guide to: Cooking (mindful)
mindful cooking, intentional cooking, mindful meal prep, cooking with care, food mindfulness
Want to get into cooking (mindful)?
- • Open our free app for step-by-step support. You’ll get guides that help you start and stick with it. You don’t need to be a pro, just jump in and give it a go.
- • You’ll also find other activities, with suggestions that match what’s most useful to you right now. Less thinking, more doing.
- • Track what you do, make gains, and adjust as you go.
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What is mindful cooking?
Mindful cooking is more than just preparing food – it’s about being present and connected throughout the entire process. From choosing a dish, finding a recipe and selecting ingredients to stirring, chopping and tasting, each step offers an opportunity to slow down and engage with your senses. By paying attention to the smells, sounds and textures, you transform cooking from a routine task into an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. This approach encourages you to cook with intention, recognising the nourishment and care you’re providing to yourself and others.
Whether you're creating a simple dish or an elaborate meal, conscious cooking can elevate the experience, allowing you to appreciate each moment. Ready to turn your kitchen into a space for creativity and reflection? Let’s dive into the essentials of mindful cooking.
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Why cooking mindfully is good for you
Mindful cooking builds creativity and self-esteem. It places you in control of what you eat, can foster social bonds and helps reduce daily stress.
Sparks culinary experimentation
Focus area: Creativity (Impact rating: High)
Greater control over food choices
Focus area: Agency (Impact rating: Medium)
Boosts positive mood
Focus area: Lightheartedness (Impact rating: Medium)
Builds coping confidence
Focus area: Resilience (Impact rating: Medium)
Helps notice and manage feelings
Focus area: Emotional awareness (Impact rating: Medium)
People who love cooking
Jamie Oliver
Person
Zoë Kravitz
Actor
Richie McCaw
Sports
"Chef's Table" (Netflix Series)
TV Show
Want a closer look at cooking (mindful)?
Ways to try it, what to expect, and how to stay safe. Read on!
Ready to start searching for recipes? Hold on! Before you dive in, there are a few important things to consider. While cooking consciously is quite straightforward, the following info will ensure your first mindful cooking moment is just the beginning of many more great experiences to come.
Safety
⚠️
Maintain a well-ventilated and organised cooking area.
What you might experience
🤔
"What am I supposed to focus on first?"
😬
"Why am I getting distracted?"
😌
"This is taking longer than I thought."
🤷♂️
"I wonder if I’m doing this right?"
🙂
"I actually feel pretty good!"
Start today
- • Open our free app for step-by-step support. You’ll get guides that help you start and stick with it. You don’t need to be a pro, just jump in and give it a go.
- • You’ll also find other activities, with suggestions that match what’s most useful to you right now. Less thinking, more doing.
- • Track what you do, make gains, and adjust as you go.
Explore your options
Whether you go it alone, join a group, or work 1:1 with a teacher, we’ve laid out what each path can look like.
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Unexpected advantages
Ancestry, history, facts and other trivia
Carrots were originally purple before being bred to be orange.
Honey stored in sealed containers never spoils and can last hundreds of years.
The first recorded recipe dates back to around 1730 BC and was written on a cuneiform tablet.
Julia Child was known for bringing French cuisine to the American public through her TV show.
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3 facts
Popular memes
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11 memes
Academic research we rate
A Dyadic Cooking-Based Intervention for Improving Subjective Health and Well-Being of Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline and Their Caregivers: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Yu, R., Lai, D., Leung, G., Tong, C., Yuen, S., & Woo, J. (2023). A Dyadic Cooking-Based Intervention for Improving Subjective Health and Well-Being of Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline and Their Caregivers: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 27(10), 824–832. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-023-1990-1
Impact of Cooking and Home Food Preparation Interventions Among Adults: A Systematic Review (2011–2016)
Reicks, M., Kocher, M., & Reeder, J. (2018). Impact of Cooking and Home Food Preparation Interventions Among Adults: A Systematic Review (2011–2016). Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 50(2), 148-172.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2017.08.004
Psychosocial Benefits of Cooking Interventions: A Systematic Review
Farmer, N., Touchton-Leonard, K., & Ross, A. (2017). Psychosocial Benefits of Cooking Interventions: A Systematic Review. Health Education & Behavior, 45(2), 167–180. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198117736352
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7 research pieces
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