Psychological Benefits of Cooking and Baking: Nourishing More Than Just the Body
- Sasha Javadpour
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
In this article:
There’s a quiet kind of magic in stirring a sauce, kneading dough, or chopping onions while the smell of garlic begins to bloom in the pan. In these moments, cooking becomes more than just preparing food—it becomes a kind of therapy. For many, myself included, cooking is a way to care for others, to express love, and to find grounding in a chaotic world.
At Hirsch Therapy, we often talk about reconnecting with parts of ourselves that feel alive, joyful, and grounded. Cooking and baking can be one of those reconnections—not just hobbies, but healing rituals in everyday life.
Cooking as Emotional Expression
Cooking offers a space to express something wordless. When emotions are overwhelming or when words fall short, cooking gives form to feeling. The act of preparing a meal—choosing ingredients, deciding how to flavour, serve, and present—can reflect how we feel, or how we wish to feel. A spicy curry can channel anger, while a delicate lemon tart might speak to tenderness or care.
Emotions move through the body, and cooking gives them a place to go.
Mindfulness and Presence in the Kitchen
Cooking brings us back to the present. Whether you're melting chocolate for a ganache or measuring flour for bread, the kitchen demands your full attention. This helps quieten the noise of anxious or spiralling thoughts. The sensory experience—watching the sauce come to a boil, the touch of every ingredient you prepare, the sound of sizzles in the pan, the aroma rising in the steam, tasting your creations—grounds us in the here and now.
In therapy, mindfulness is often encouraged as a way to manage anxiety and emotional overwhelm. Cooking naturally invites this practice. You don’t have to be good at it; you just have to show up. One step at a time. One stir at a time.
Creativity, Mastery, and Self-Esteem
There’s pride in watching a dish come together, especially if it didn’t go perfectly the first time. Trying a new recipe or improvising with what’s in your fridge can ignite creativity and playfulness, both of which are deeply therapeutic.
For people who struggle with self-worth, cooking provides small wins. You follow the steps, and something nourishing comes out of it. Over time, these moments build confidence.
“I can do this”
“I made this”
It becomes proof that you are capable, creative, and adaptable—qualities that often get buried under the weight of stress, burnout, or self-doubt.
Feeding Others as an Act of Connection
Cooking for others can be an act of love. There’s something primal and beautiful about feeding someone, whether it’s a simple breakfast for your partner or chocolates you made for a friend’s birthday. These moments strengthen bonds, allowing us to care and be cared for in return.
In therapy, we often explore how clients give and receive love. For those who find it hard to express affection with words, cooking becomes a love language.
It's a way of saying, “you matter”, “I thought of you”, and “I’m here for you”.
And in being received, when someone enjoys your food, you may feel seen and appreciated in return.
When Cooking Becomes Self-Care
Cooking and baking can also be a deeply personal form of self-care. Making a meal just for yourself, just the way you like it, is a declaration of worthiness.
It’s saying: I am worth the time, the effort, and the attention.
For those healing from burnout or depression, preparing a meal can be a way of reclaiming control and boundaries. It's saying to yourself and the world that you matter enough to take a couple of hours to prepare a healthy meal for yourself to enjoy. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Even boiling pasta or frying an egg can be a step toward care and nourishment.
At Hirsch Therapy, we often help clients reconnect with their passions—those quiet sparks that help them feel alive again. You don’t have to become a chef or make everything from scratch. Just pay attention to how it feels to create something, to feed yourself and others, and to make space for joy.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, numb, or just disconnected from yourself, therapy can help you explore what brings you back.