The term “mindfulness” is frequently misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, mindfulness is not solely achieved through meditation. In fact, research has shown that combining the two can sometimes lead to undesirable outcomes. Additionally, mindfulness is not a quick fix for mental-health concerns, nor is it synonymous with relaxation.

Mindfulness is about being fully present and aware of what is happening in the here and now, without hastily judging or reacting to it. It’s about paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, sensations, and surroundings with curiosity and openness.

However, being mindful is not always easy. It’s a skill that requires practice and patience, and that’s where cooking comes in. Here are two science-backed reasons why spending time in the kitchen can be the perfect recipe for achieving this often-elusive state of mind.

1. Cooking Trains You to Appreciate All Your Senses

Cooking is a multi-sensory experience that requires you to pay attention to your five senses: touch, smell, sight, hearing and taste. When you cook, you use your hands to feel the texture of ingredients, your nose to smell the aroma of spices, your eyes to see the colors of vegetables, your ears to hear the sizzle of oil and your tongue to taste the flavors of your dish.

And practice makes perfect. The more you engage your senses to work together to achieve a certain goal, the better your ability to call upon these senses to work together to achieve a state of mindfulness at any given time, which is a crucial skill to improve your well-being.

In fact, a 2021 review published in Frontiers in Psychology explored the relationship between cooking as a mindfulness activity and well-being through the lens of the PERMA model of well-being, proposed by psychologist Martin Seligman.

The PERMA model includes five components of well-being (positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning and achievement), all of which were positively impacted by putting together a meal. According to the review:

1. Cooking is a joyful activity that makes people feel satisfied and grateful. These are strong positive emotions that are linked to improved well-being.
2. It can foster engagement through flow, creativity, and skill development.
3. It can enhance your relationships through social connection, communication, and cooperation.
4. It can provide meaning through purpose, values, and identity.
5. It can also facilitate achievement through mastery, competence, and accomplishment.

2. Cooking Enhances Your Abilities and Fosters a More Mindful and Creative Attitude

Another way that cooking can make you more mindful is by enhancing your creativity. Creativity is not only a skill that can be applied to artistic endeavors, but also a mindset that can help you cope with challenges, embrace opportunities, and enjoy life more fully.

While pursuing any hobby can make you more creative, certain aspects of cooking boost your creativity in ways that can make you mindful.

For instance, in the process of preparing a meal, you often have to improvise or adapt on the fly: Maybe the recipe calls for a specific ingredient you don't have, or you find yourself dealing with an unexpected obstacle like a broken appliance. Also, there’s a learning curve involved in planning the process of clean-up: Do you want to clean as you go, or wait until after the meal to wash all the utensils that have piled up? Situations and challenges like these require you to think on your feet and come up with new solutions, thus exercising your creativity in a practical, immediate way.

Moreover, cooking allows you to experiment with different ingredients, techniques, and flavors, which involves a sense of curiosity and playfulness. This encourages you to stay open to new experiences and perspectives, a key characteristic of a mindful attitude.

A 2012 study published in Frontiers in Psychology explored the relationship between mindfulness and creativity using mindfulness meditation as an intervention method. The study found that being mindful—which involves higher awareness, concentration, and the ability to make accurate judgments—had a positive impact on participants’ work creativity.

The study also found that positive emotions and the state of flow, which are related to both mindfulness and creative pursuits, have positive effects on well-being. This is supported by a 2016 study published in The Journal of Positive Psychology, which found that everyday activities that involve creativity, such as cooking, can boost psychological functioning. These findings suggest that engaging in creative activities like cooking can enhance mindfulness and improve well-being.

Conclusion

Cooking, a sensory-rich and creative pursuit, can serve as an unexpected yet powerful route to mindfulness. By fully engaging our senses and embracing adaptability, we cultivate a mindful state that enriches our life inside and outside the kitchen.