Finding balance in cooking
Even as the coronavirus measures restrict our lives, one place offers some balance: the kitchen. Cooking is an activity that speak to the senses and enhances our social life.
“What is good for me and my family? What should we eat to stay healthy? How do we find a little enjoyment, maybe even pleasure? What builds us up?” Jasmin Peschke knows the answers to these questions. With a doctorate in ecotrophology, Peschke is a member of the Nutrition Department of the Section for Agriculture at the Goetheanum and recommends that we do everything we can to strengthen our immune systems and our health. In her opinion, this includes meditation, outdoor exercise, enjoying the green spaces just outside our window, and even a white cloud against a blue sky – and last but not least a home-cooked meal.
“Cooking is an art that only we humans can master – especially now, ideally with the children”, says Jasmin Peschke. After all, preparing meals appeals to many of our senses. The conscious perception of the food’s colours and its presentation on the plate as well as the smell and, as we chew, the taste, are important sensory experiences that are already part of digestion. “Last but not least, the intestinal microbiome is nourished this way, and our immune system is strengthened”, emphasizes the nutritionist. Freshly prepared meals from high-quality organic or biodynamic ingredients play an important role here. This is because they contain more secondary plant ingredients that promote health than conventionally grown foods.
All this can be done in a fun and playful way. “Some foods may surprise us: we can learn about ingredients, herbs and spices and their composition, even discover how to decorate dishes with blossoms. Beauty and creativity have a positive effect on our organism and do wonders for our soul.”