processed

Adjective
ˈprɑsɛst
(of food) changed in order to make it taste better, last longer, etc.
You shouldn't eat too much processed food; it's not good for your health.
nutrient
Noun
ˈnuːtriənt
any substance that helps humans and animals grow
Raw vegetables contain more nutrients than cooked ones.
calorie
Noun
ˈkæləri
a unit for measuring how much energy there is in food
I'm very careful about how many calories I consume a day.
culinary
Adjective
ˈkjuːləˌnɛriː
relating to cooking or food
The local university offers several culinary programs.
self-esteem
Noun
self ɪˈstiːm
a sense of confidence in one's own ability and worth
Being bullied as a child can cause long-term damage to one's  self-esteem.
socialization
Noun
ˌsəʊʃələˈzeɪʃn
the activity of interacting socially with other people
Increased socialization with other students helped manage his anger problems.

How Cooking at Home Can Benefit Your Health

A quick look at social media shows that, with many countries in lockdown to prevent
the spread of coronavirus, people are spending a lot of time cooking for
themselves. Cooking a meal from scratch is not only a good way to pass the time and
create great Instagram content, it also has a number of health benefits.

Less Processed Food

Cooking for yourself probably means that you will be eating much less processed
food, which is often high in fat, sugar and salt, and low in fiber and essential nutrients.

A 2018 study that looked at the diets of nearly 105,000 adults in France found that
eating large amounts of ultra-processed food was associated with an increased risk of
getting any kind of cancer. Very sugary food and drinks were also associated with an
increased risk of breast cancer.

Fewer Calories
Research published in 2014 by a team at Johns Hopkins University found that people
who often cooked dinner for themselves at home consumed fewer calories.
The study of over 9,500 Americans found that adults who cooked at home once a
week or less consumed an average of 2,300 calories a day, while people who cooked
dinner six to seven nights a week ate just over 2,160 calories every day, and also ate
less fat and sugar.

Mental Health Boost

Cooking may help your mental health too. Culinary therapy, which gets mental health
patients learning about food and cooking, is used to treat things like depression and
anxiety. It aims to not only help patients develop a healthy relationship with food, but
also reduce stress and improve self-esteem.

A 2018 review of studies on culinary therapy found that treatments using cooking do
seem to have a positive effect on self-esteem, socialization and quality of life, though
more research is needed to be sure.

How often do you cook for yourself?

Who's the best cook you know? How often do they cook for you?

How much processed food do you typically eat per week?

Are you in the habit of counting calories? Why? Why not?

What activities would you say give you a mental health boost?

When was the last time you cooked for your family or friends? Please share your
experience.

Do you ever share photos of food on social media? Why? Why not?

Where do you typically look for new recipes? Please explain your answer.

Have you ever taken a cooking class? If so, please share your experience. If not,
would you like to?

Do you think you'd enjoy working as a chef? Why? Why not?

Quotes

1.
All good cooks, like all great artists, must have an audience worth cooking for.  –
Andre Simon.
2.
In cooking, as in all the arts, simplicity is the sign of perfection.  – Curnonsky.