FORGOTTEN HISTORY: Creative food hacks | History Defined

While cooking for others instills a particular brand of horror in me (don’t ever ask me to bring rice), I must admit I find my meal-prep Sundays pretty therapeutic. In fact, something about all that chopping, roasting, and portioning feels deeply rewarding. And it’s not just me. Research backs this up. As Robert Castellano, M.S., explains for Psychology Today, “a growing body of psychological and behavioral research suggests that cooking can serve as a powerful tool for enhancing mental health and emotional well-being.”

That may be because cooking plays more than just a functional role. It’s not only about providing sustenance. Rather, Castellano argues that cooking offers opportunities for “mindfulness, creativity, agency, and social connection.” When approached as less of a chore and more of a meaningful, intentional practice, it can be both nourishing and psychologically restorative.

And really, I can relate. At the end of a long work week and what’s likely been a busy weekend attending to groceries, chores, and social obligations, Sunday afternoons spent cooking feel just like that: restorative. Part of the appeal may lie in what Castellano describes as “cooking as mindfulness in action.” Focusing on concrete tasks, he explains, can redirect our attention away from rumination and anxiety and toward something manageable in the present moment.

There’s something grounding about the process itself, too. The crunch of fresh vegetables, the aroma of herbs and spices, and the transformation of raw ingredients into finished dishes (even if they aren’t always pretty)—all of it allows you to immerse yourself in the moment, both cognitively and sensorily. Even simple, repetitive tasks such as stirring a sauce or kneading dough can take on an almost meditative quality.

But cooking can also foster a sense of competence and agency. Think about the satisfaction of turning a fridge full of raw ingredients into a neat display of stacked Tupperware containers, complete with labels and dates. Even if what’s inside each container isn’t necessarily impressive, you’ve still accomplished something tangible. “Over time,” Castellano says, “repeated successes in the kitchen can generalize into broader feelings of confidence and capability, contributing to improved overall mental health.”

There’s comfort in the routine, too. My Sunday meal prep gives me a little structure before the working week begins, and knowing I have a few meals ready to go takes some pressure off busy evenings. Castellano explains that “These repeated patterns create predictability, which can reduce cognitive load and enhance a sense of control.” In other words, having a familiar routine can take some of the guesswork out of everyday life, leaving you with one less thing to worry about.