It’s officially pumpkin soup season. And as it gets colder, it is essential to find activities that bring you joy and keep you warm. This is the perfect time to find yourself again in the folds of your blankets and pick up a new indoor hobby to keep you busy during the rest of the season. Might I suggest cooking? Cooking is the perfect hobby to cultivate during this time. It’s a multifaceted activity that targets different aspects of your life. Try it for a week. Stop ordering out or grabbing fast food on your way home from work and cook with what you have in your refrigerator. There is a lot of joy in the pots and pans that may be gathering dust in your kitchens.
What is your palate like?
When you cook for yourself, you can refine your palate. There is so much room to pick and choose what you like and what you don’t like. You are at liberty to craft whatever recipes you may want and personalize your dishes. You have the opportunity to go grocery shopping, pick out your fruits and vegetables according to how they feel or look, and season and toss them when you get home. You can fry a zucchini today or stew it tomorrow, and nobody will have anything to say about it. The meal is entirely between you and your tastebuds! Additionally, experimenting with different recipes gives insight into what you like and dislike. You might prefer your food on the sweeter side, but after trying out a recipe you saw on TikTok, you don’t mind it a little spicier!
Cultivating new skills
Not only does cooking alter your dietary preferences, but it also helps you cultivate a plethora of skills. One of those skills is multitasking. When you cook for yourself, you are forced to balance your time and stay on top of things. When you are simultaneously dicing the onions, washing the dishes, and checking on the sauce on the stove, you gradually become a great multitasker, which comes in handy in school, at work, and even in your home life. Another skill that you learn when you regularly cook is the virtue of patience. As you cook, you must wait for the food to soak, boil, or simmer without any intervention, lest you ruin the dish.
Cooking as a self-care practice
Preparing your own meals forces you to be present in the moment and practice mindfulness as you stir that pot. Not only that but also the act itself becomes a sensory experience where the aroma of the food fills the air, and your taste buds are enlivened. Additionally, cooking becomes a self-care activity when you take the time to feed your body according to its needs. Because you can control the ingredients you use and their preparation techniques, you can track down what makes you feel good, bloated, or just outright disgusted. In this way, you begin to heal your gut while boosting your immune system. Lastly, knowing that you can have a satisfying and delicious meal of your own accord should be enough.