Do you have a favorite memory of smelling fresh bread, cookies, or a casserole when you came home from school as a child? Or, do you have fond memories of making dinner with a relative or parent in the kitchen? For many of us, food represents not just sustenance but precious moments spent with those we love, creating or sharing a meal with others. It may also be a focal point for a special event, ritual, celebration, or momentous occasion. In fact, at the center of many of our most precious moments spent with spent with family and friends, food often plays an integral part. Since the beginning of time, humans gave gathered around fires to cook food and socialize.

It’s not hard to realize that cooking and baking are popular – just pay attention to the plethora of cooking and baking shows and competition shows.

During the pandemic when the world was locked away, many people took to cooking and baking to not only cope with the stress and isolation during the time, but also to be creative and follow a possible ignored passion or interest.

An article by Danny Lewis, Feeling Down? Scientists Say Cooking and Baking Could Help You Feel Better: A little creativity each day goes a long way, for the Smithsonian Magazine mentions, “This isn’t the first time researchers have drawn a line connecting making food with positive feelings. In recent years, psychologists have started spending more time exploring cooking and baking as a therapeutic tool to help people dealing with things like depression and anxiety, Meager reports.”

Whether you enjoy creating food or eating it, escaping through food is a wonderful thing to do.

TRY THIS:

If you enjoy baking or cooking, go through your recipes and start to organize them.

Next, choose a couple new dishes you would like to try in the week; ensure you have time and resources to get the ingredients.

Then, take time and try out these recipes – even invite your family and friends to your home.

You may even have a ‘theme’ week – ex. Hawaiian week where you make Hawaiian pizza, and other Hawaiian delicacies.

If you are not excited about baking or cooking, perhaps you go out for breakfast, lunch or a dinner at a restaurant you have been yearning to visit.

Certain times of years have fairs and exhibitions with food vendors; this can be a great way to try a plethora of foods in a single afternoon!

Have fun and happy escaping!

(Reference: Danny Lewis, Feeling Down? Scientists Say Cooking and Baking Could Help You Feel Better: A little creativity each day goes a long way, Smithsonian Magazine, November 29, 2016, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/feeling-down-scientists-say-cooking-may-help-you-feel-better-180961223)