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Baking and Mental Health



We are all familiar with the importance of eating well and exercising regularly to look after our physical health. Looking after our mental health is equally as important. Doing things you love is an excellent way to ensure that you feel as well as you can be. For some, that could be running, meditation or yoga but for me, baking brings so much joy.

Baking gives me a sense of achievement. It is incredibly satisfying seeing the final product and knowing that I created something that tastes good. Baking requires precision such as measuring ingredients and using a range of techniques. Last week, I made my first pavlova that wasn’t burnt on the outside and raw in the middle! I felt almost euphoric that I had finally mastered the skill of making meringues and it tasted fabulous!

Creativity you can eat! Having a creative outlet is hugely beneficial but that doesn’t mean you have to be artistic. Most of my cakes taste a lot better than they look! Some people do fabulous intricate designs but if that's not your thing, you can be proud that you created something tasty out of a bunch of raw ingredients.

Cake is comforting. On a horrible grey day, nothing lifts your mood like cracking open your trusty cookbooks and baking old favourites. While regular comfort eating is not the best dietary plan, it is fun to treat yourself and feel cosy with a slice of homemade cake instead of binging on preservative laden junk food.

Few things unite people like cake does! Bring a smile to someone by treating them to baked goods! I love baking for other people as it is a way for me to show I appreciate them. Baking encourages sharing, either by inviting friends around for a cuppa and a slice of something nice or by sharing the experience of a baking day with a friend. Whenever someone brings in cake to work, colleagues often take a quick break to have a natter over some cake. 

Baking is therapeutic. I asked many friends why they enjoy baking and they all said, they find it therapeutic. In this day and age, rushing about is the norm but baking is a wonderful way of taking time over something you love. It’s hard to hurry making a cake otherwise it will likely be burnt or raw! You have to concentrate to follow the recipe and baking encourages me to enjoy the aroma of cake in the oven, the feel of kneading bread and fully appreciate the taste. 

I hope all these reasons will inspire you to get back in the kitchen! This post was partly inspired by The Great British Bake Off winner, JohnWhaite’s article for Mind about how baking helped him during a period of depression. 1 in 4 people suffer from a mental illness at some point in their lives and even if you are not one of those people, everyone has mental health and baking can lift your spirits. Obviously, baking isn't a cure for mental illness but it certainly makes life a little sweeter which is no bad thing.
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