Cooking, a skill widely recognized to be essential for adult life, is not of importance to nearly enough people. Besides the obvious benefit of increased nutrition and health value, cooking can also have social and mental benefits. According to Science Direct, the percentage of adults who cook daily in the United States was 72% for women and 52% for men. Over the past 20 years, the percentage of men who cook daily has increased by almost 20%, while the percentage of women who cook has stayed relatively constant over the same time period.

There are numerous benefits received from cooking your own meals. According to Harvard Health Publishing, people who regularly cook meals at home consume fewer calories overall, are less motivated to eat less healthy food when given the opportunity, and eat a wider selection of foods than those who do not cook for themselves regularly.

Besides the health benefits of cooking your own food, cooking can also have social payoffs. Cooking with others can strengthen your bonds with them, and cooking a meal might motivate you to invite others to share it with you. In addition, many social gatherings are centered around food or a meal, so becoming a part of the cooking community taps you into a new social avenue. 

Cooking can even give mental benefits. According to Harvard Health Publishing, people often find personal satisfaction in cooking, turning cooking into not a chore, but a fun activity. Cooking creates a tangible product, with the food resulting from it being a great reward for your time.

Since cooking has health, social, and mental benefits, teenagers and young adults should learn how to cook. Cooking classes are offered at many organizations and schools, including at Huron. Alternatively, many people pick up the skill through family members or simply by trying to cook a few recipes. Personally, I learned to cook from my parents. With so many ways to learn, there’s never been a better time to start cooking for yourself.