I have always seen my mom cooking breakfast and lunch and sometimes evening snack too for my dad and for my brother and myself. By about 7.15 am the food will be ready on the table as on all week days we all eat a complete meal in the morning with a veg curry, sambar and or rasam and curd. We all will leave home max by 8.00 am. I am not here to share what we did in our childhood but what I want to share is what my mom did when she cooked for all of us in the morning. She used to chant slogas all that she knew while she cooked the food. May be that is the very reason the food tasted so divine and not just us, all my friends too liked it a lot. And this made me write this particular post in my food blog.
Cooking is more than just a daily chore or a means to fill our stomachs - it is an act of love, creativity and connection. When you cook from the heart, something magical happens. The food carries your emotions, your care and your warmth. It is mot about how perfectly the dish is plated or how exotic the ingredients are - it is about the intention behind it. The energy you pour into your cooking often reflects in the taste, aroma, and the joy it brings to others.
We have all experienced the truth. Think about all the favourite food that you had relished all these years, mother's favourite sweet, grandma's favourite sambar, a favourite aunt's favourite biriyani or the lovely cakes made by our kids. What makes the dishes so special is not just the recipe, it is the love and effort that go into it. Even simple dishes made with attention and affection often taste far better than fancy meals cooked in a rush or without heart.
Cooking is always a Reflection of the Cook
The mood and mindset of the cook can deeply influence the food. Yes and that is why my mom's food tasted divine as her foocus mood and mindset was clearly on the slokas that she was chanting. If you are cooking while you are irritated or distracted the dish may turn out uneven or uninspired. But when you cook with patience and joy, you create something soulful. That is why many traditional kitchens, especially the Indian homes, emphasize cooking with calmness and a pure heart. (To bring that calmness and pure heart only my mom used to chant slogas). Some even consider the kitchen sacred space where energy flows into food that nourishes both body and soul and spiit.
Cooking from the heart does not mean you need to be a professional chef or follow every instruction perfectly, it is about being present in the process - the rhythm of chopping vegetables, the sound of sizzling spices, the comforting smell of something baking. Each step becomes an act of mindfulness. When your hands move with intention, your heart naturally follows.
The Power of Emotion in Food
Have you noticed how food made for someone you love always feels different. That is because emotion plays a huge role in cooking. When you cook with love, it shows - in the texture, the balance of flavours, and the way it makes others feel.
In fact, science supports this too. Studies have found that our emotions influence the way we perceive taste and smell. Happiness enhances our sensory experiences, while stress for anger dulls them. So, a happy cook naturally makes a happier meals.
When you cook for your family or friends, you are not just providing nourrishment, you are sharing a part of yourself. A thoughtfully made meal says, " I care for you". It becomes a silent language of love and connection. That is why meals shared with loved ones often become beautiful memories.
Cooking as a Journey of Growth
Cooking from the heart also teaches patience, humility, and adaptability. Sometimes things don't go as planned - the rice over cooks or under cooks, the dosa sticks, or the cakes burnts. But those moments are opportunities to learn, to laugh, and to grow. You start to realize that perfection is not the goal - presence is.
Every dish you make adds to your story as a cook. You begin to discover your own rhythm, your preferences, and your style. Over time, cooking becomes less about following a recipe and more about trusting your instincts - a reflection of life itself.
How to cook from the Heart
- Be Present: Set aside distractions. Focus on the aroma, texture, and feel of the ingredients.
- Cook with gratitude: Think of the people you are cooking for and the blessings that allow you to prepare the food.
- Enjoy the process: Don't rush. Let cooking become your form of relaxation or meditation.
- Experiment fearlessly: Add your own touch to recipes. Cooking from the heart means expressing yourself.
- Share generously: Food always tastes better when shared. Offer it with a smile - that is the true finishing touch.
Cooking from the heart transforms the simplest meal into something soulful. It is an art that does not require perfection, just presence. Whether you are preparing a festive feast or a quick weekday dinner. remember = your attitude is the most powerful ingredient you can add.
When you pour your emotions, love and gratitude into your food, it nourishes not just the b ody but also the soul. So next time you step into your kitchen, slow down, Feel the joy of creating something beautiful. Let your hands follow your heart-,because when you cook from the heart, the food will always turn out better.
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