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.
mindful cooking, intentional cooking, mindful meal prep, cooking with care, food mindfulness
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.
Check out our safety recommendations.
Decide what dish or meal you are going to prepare.
Collect the ingredients and cooking tools you need.
Put on an apron and put aside all other distractions so you can focus all of your attention on the process.
Once you are set up, head to our Practice Guides and get started.
Looking for detailed practice guides? Hang tight, they are coming soon!
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.
Mindful cooking improves physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing by encouraging focused attention, intention and a deeper connection with food. For more excellent reasons to get into this activity, take a look at the research!
Reduced stress
Emotional well-being
Enhanced enjoyment of food
Self well-being
Improved nutritional choices
Physical well-being
Emotional fulfilment
Emotional well-being, Self well-being
Increased creativity
Self well-being
Jamie Oliver
Person
Zoë Kravitz
Actor
Richie McCaw
Sports
"Chef's Table" (Netflix Series)
TV Show
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.
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Maintain a well-ventilated and organised cooking area.
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"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!"
Are you ready to start cooking mindfully?
We are busy working on detailed getting started guides and individual practice guides to follow.
Wondering whether you should start on your own, in a class, or 1:1 with a teacher? Explore the table below and discover everything you need to know to get your practice started right now.
Compare
Recommendation for first-timer
2nd pick
3rd pick
Availability
Widely
Limited
Limited
Average cost per session
Free or low cost
Expensive
Expensive
Special equipment required
None or minimal
None or minimal
None or minimal
Potential for socialisation & community
Social potential
Social potential
Mostly solo
Safety & skill building
Mixed results
Safe & fast
Safe & fast
Space or privacy required
Minimal
Some required
Minimal
Ease of scheduling
Very flexible
Quite rigid
Quite rigid
Setup time
Little to none
Over 30 mins
Up to 30 mins
Active practice time
Under 20 mins
An hour +
An hour +
Unexpected advantages
Random
Wholesome
Actually useful
Julia Child was known for bringing French cuisine to the American public through her TV show.
Honey stored in sealed containers never spoils and can last hundreds of years.
The Maillard reaction is a chemical process between amino acids and sugars that gives browned food its unique flavor.
The first recorded recipe dates back to around 1730 BC and was written on a cuneiform tablet.
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3 facts
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11 memes
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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