5 Questions

Michael Pollan on Why We Should Cook (plus a Giveaway!)

April 30, 2013

We're sitting down with our favorite writers and cooks to talk about their upcoming cookbooks, their best food memories, and just about anything else.

Today, we talk to Michael Pollan, who got back into the kitchen for his new book, Cooked. Be sure to enter our giveaway below!

                   Cooked Pollan

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Michael Pollan's writing on modern food systems has played a huge role in how we think about what we eat and where we purchase our foods. If you haven't read The Omnivore's Dilemma or In Defense of Food, get thee to a bookstore -- but first, add one more book to your shopping list. Cooked, Pollan's most recent work, proves that the solution to many of our problems -- personal, philosophical, environmental, and social -- is as simple as getting in the kitchen.

We stole a few minutes of Michael's time to discuss what he loves about cooking, what he learned from his latest book, and what his daily eats look like. Be sure to enter our giveaway to win one of five copies -- Cooked is sure to inspire you to get cooking. And we're totally on board with that.

Your book is all about the importance of cooking at home, but you're sort of preaching to the choir here -- it's one of our favorite things to do. As home cooks, what's the best way to inspire others to spend more time in their kitchens?
I think that if you're a passionate cook, inviting friends into your kitchen is a great way to share your passion. Also, by watching or helping others, you can learn things you could never learn from a book or even a video. Side-by-side teaching is the best kind there is. Over time, dinner parties at our house have evolved in such a way that people show up an hour or two early to help out in the kitchen, and the cooking is as central to the experience as the eating. 

We're nosy, so we want to know: what do you eat? What does an average day of (whole) food look like in your life?
I often have eggs for breakfast, or yogurt and fruit in the summer, or oatmeal in winter. For lunch I try to eat leftovers, and usually cook enough dinner to roll over into lunch; otherwise I'll make a sandwich of whatever's around. Dinner midweek might be fish on the grill with three or four vegetables -- often roasted on a cookie sheet with olive oil, or greens from the garden -- kale, chard, spinach -- sautéed in olive oil. Pretty simple. We might make a stew, braise, or soup on a Sunday and have that a couple of nights during the week.

More: Roast any vegetable, in just 4 steps.

Potatoes

What is your favorite thing about cooking? 
For me it's a lot like gardening, which I've been at much longer. It gets me away from screens, from paid work, and it reacquaints me with all my senses, which I immediately realize are feeling neglected and in need of a workout. Learning to be present in the kitchen is a great gift to one's sanity -- to be there, taking in the smells and tastes, and letting the world fade away. What could feel like drudgery can feel like the most wonderful immersion. 

One of the simplest -- and most valuable -- tips you have for shoppers is to only buy foods found on the perimeter of the grocery store: whole foods like dairy, produce, eggs, and meat. If we were to catch you in the inner aisles, though, what Edible Foodlike Substance would you be buying?
I do wander in there from time to time to buy simple processed foods like canned tomatoes, chickpeas, and frozen spinach, which are all fantastic ingredients. It's the hyperprocessed foods -- those with dozens of ingredients, that are meant to be whole meals -- that get you in trouble, and I am really not tempted by them. But I do have a weakness for chips of all kinds, and the occasional bag of Cracker Jacks -- though I tend to buy these from gas stations, a notably terrible place to shop for food.

In Cooked, you learn about cooking from bakers, barbecue masters, chefs, and "fermentos" -- what is the most interesting fact, or valuable lesson, that you learned from these professionals?
"Practice, patience, and presence" -- the mantra of one my teachers, Samin Nosrat, which she picked up from a yoga teacher. I learned to be patient -- to let the onions sweat and sautée for 45 minutes rather than five, the braise at 225 not 300, to overcome my usual time panic and let things unfold. As a baker told me, "baking bread takes a lot of time, but it's not YOUR time."  

Looking for more motivation to cook? Beautiful tools are a good first step.

We're giving away five copies of Michael's new book! For a chance to win, tell us: what do you think is the most compelling reason to cook? Winners will be chosen at 3 PM EST this Friday, May 3.

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

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Marian Bull

Written by: Marian Bull

writer

260 Comments

fen1027 January 12, 2018
Cooking is about reconnecting with all of your senses and realizing that respecting ingredients is a way of respecting yourself and the earth.
 
LouLu August 15, 2016
That's an easy answer. We must cook for ourselves because when you cook your own foods, you know exactly what your foods are made out of. I do not trust any food establishment and never eat 'junk foods' at all. I was not raised with that belief. Having a garden to me, is the best thing anyone can do for oneself.
The saying that 'we are what we eat', is more true now than when I heard it as a child.
Healthy eating to all,
Lu
 
Oluseyi S. May 16, 2013
Hey Luliia,

I messaged them. And they said that: "they notified all the winners via e-mail."

Either way,it was a great contest and everyone had such fantastic answers!

Oluseyi
 
Iuliia U. May 16, 2013
Who won? :)
 
Karina V. May 3, 2013
Cooking for my family is not only an honor, but also the opportunity to get inspired by my love for them. Feeling that i am actually loving them through my effort and creativity.
 
The Omnivore's Dilemma changed the way that I think about food and helped me to define who I am as a cook and as an eater. There are many reasons why I cook. The biggest reason is because I enjoy it! It's fun, it's relaxing and it gives me great pleasure to feed loved ones, particularly my young daughter. I love watching her when she discovers a new food for the first time and sees how transporting a delicious meal can be. There is nothing that I enjoy more than sitting down at the dinner table with loved ones, hearing about everyone's day and savoring a delicious, thoughtfully and lovingly cooked meal. To me, cooking is also about family connections. When I cook, I feel the presence of those who have come before me in the kitchen -- it nourishes my soul to spend time in the kitchen and rediscover the food of my roots, whether it is cooking my Mexican grandmother's Hatch green chile or trying my hand at my Italian great-grandmother's homemade ravioli.
 
MichelleWalkden May 3, 2013
Cooking is my favorite way to eat beacuse it is fresh and just how you like it!
 
Tadej May 3, 2013
To enjoy better food and bring smile to faces of the people you care about.
 
Alley's R. May 2, 2013
My parents never cooked. I grew up on fast food and frozen meals, which is why I cook every day now. I use as many raw ingredients as possible so I know what is in the food that is fueling my body. Reading In Defense of Food was really my turning point from eating "foodlike substance" to now eating real food.
 
Sandra E. May 2, 2013
My most compelling reason to cook is because most everyone I know sucks at it!!! My family have all decided to eat smart many years ago. Love cooking what is in season and what's at hand at local farmers markets. I would love to have a copy of "Cooked"!!
 
LC's K. May 2, 2013
I married 27 years ago. My husband and I grew up with mothers that cooked our meals. We have raised 4 children on home-cooked meals. For cost savings, yes, but the indulgence of eating out several times a week was unthinkable to us. Eating dinner, at home, as a family, was an important part of our day. Because I have been a cook all these years, my children have grown up and become very competent and adventurous in the kitchen, and I have found great satisfaction in the creative art of cooking.
 
SariS May 2, 2013
Cooking helps me to relax and unwind after a long day!
 
BMCourtney May 2, 2013
I cook for the pure pleasure of eating a meal, whether at a place set for one at my dining room table or for a tableful of friends and family. Each delights me equally.
 
Elsa May 2, 2013
I sat here for a few minutes trying to break down "why cook?" into separate reasons... but more than any other daily task, this one seems to me to be composed of an endless braid of interwoven practical, emotional, sensory, and cultural motives. Cooking --- and, even more, sharing that cooking --- nourishes me and those I feed not only physically but emotionally. We use cooking as a canvas to express our affections, our histories, our hopes, our respect, our desires.

When I remember a guest's favorite flavors or honor a friend's dietary restrictions or bring a packet of homemade candy to celebrate, that's not just food, but a token of love. When someone shares a nostalgic treat or a traditional dish, they're sharing something history as well as food. When my husband spends his one free afternoon every week cooking dinner for the two of us, he's doing something more than just feeding us.

And that is why I cook: because it both satisfies an essential need and communicates complex (sometimes even ineffable) ideas and feelings with the people around me.
 
Nataliee May 2, 2013
The most compelling reason to cook: all the learning, the creativity, the experience of world history through cuisine, the understanding of all ingredients and processes needed for a good dish and thus eating well, the "instant" gratification for the efforts, and (since I love cooking for people) the pure joy of seeing faces light up when they taste the food.
My grandmother used to say that you can't just throw something on a plate, you have to put some love into it. :)
 
beyondcelery May 2, 2013
My most compelling reason to cook is the joy it gives me to feed other people and hear those happy sounds of crunching, munching, and slurping. It's also self-preservation: I'm very allergic to gluten, so if I want sourdough, a Cornish pasty, or potstickers, I'd better make them myself or I risk being sick!
 
Deborah H. May 2, 2013
I enjoy cooking with fresh whole foods - & I like knowing what is in the food that my family and I are eating
 
Bonhomie May 2, 2013
Engages you more with the entire globe and those right around you.
 
Victoria C. May 2, 2013
The most compelling reason is to eat well. When I was young and just married, I knew that I would be eating every day for the rest of my life and wanted to eat well and wisely. What I didn't know is that it would morph into one of the three greatest pleasures of my life: cooking, reading, and writing.
 
AntoniaJames May 2, 2013
To engage in a joyful activity, every day, that not only enables me to manage stress effectively but also allows me to provide the best-tasting, most cost-effective, most nutritious meals possible. ;o)
 
wssmom May 2, 2013
Because it's fun!
 
Oluseyi S. May 2, 2013
Personally, I think that the most compelling reason to cook is to share a little bit about yourself with those around you; however in the same vein, to explore and discover who you are. Just through my cooking, someone can tell that I am a strict vegetarian;I am health conscious, I am African; and I am a bit eclectic. And for me, I was able to discover how much I cared about the food that went into my body and my desire to play a role in the process of making that food. Plus, just absolutely delicious!
 
boardandspoon May 2, 2013
To nourish those you love, and do it well.
 
zoemetro U. May 2, 2013
Cooking is my meditation. The sound of a dinner guest's spontaneous "mmmm" is my Prozac.
 
Sline May 2, 2013
I think the reason I cook is because my mother always did, so it was never intimidating for me to do it. It is healthier and less costly than the alternative. I like to make things, lots of different things, but food is the easiest and most useful thing to my family that I can make. Also, I love eating food!
 
Shalini May 2, 2013
I think the most compelling reason for me, to cook, would be to instil great memories about life through food. This way the history of what you've made is carried on through peoples' minds and memories.
 
jenniebgood May 2, 2013
I follow the philosophy that if you cook for and plan meals together with people you love you build happy relationships. For me it's crucial to have that connection with my family and friends. Another important by-product is the enjoyment of homemade, fresh and (most of the time!) healthy meals. I've come to love staying in and cooking a meal -be it simple or fancy - more than eating out.
 
emadethis May 2, 2013
Cooking helps me nourish my mind and my body and helps me create beauty for my family and friends. When we all gather around the table and the food becomes the facilitator for deep connection, my joy cannot be contained.
 
Linn May 2, 2013
So many good reasons to cook, most of them already noted. Fun, satisfaction, sensuality, hunger, friendship, celebration, tastes, textures, love ... And in the opinion of this nutritionist, the best way to eat healthy.
 
Katie T. May 2, 2013
The most compelling reason to cook is the personal satisfaction one can experience by assuming an active role in the process of nourishing our own bodies, those of our loved ones, and fellow mankind.
 
mcs3000 May 2, 2013
Awesome to see Michael's shout out to Samin. If you live in the Bay Area, don't miss one of her cooking classes/series.
 
queencake May 2, 2013
love. best from berlin, anja/[email protected]
 
stylefriendly May 2, 2013
To share food with others.
 
NDavid May 2, 2013
Why cook? Why deny oneself the wonder of alchemy? What other magic act uses all your senses and rewards you and your loved ones with the most personal and individual of finales? Cooking is the most universally practiced art form, and I for one want to keep
practicing until I get it right.
 
arcane54 May 1, 2013
well, my first inclination was to answer your question with "TO EAT!" which I love to do (this IS Food52 after all). But if that were the ONLY reason then fast food or tasteless bland calories would suffice. No, to cook is to connect -- with people, places, memories, history, my body and its health, and to connect with soil, earth, air, and sun. To me all of these are embodied in each bite and every wafting of steam, smoke or fragrance.
 
Andryea N. May 1, 2013
It's pretty simple... I live to eat and if I don't cook, I don't eat. When I have to depend on others to feed me I compromise more than I willing to (quality, taste and money).
 
Nomnomnom May 1, 2013
There are so many compelling reasons to cook at home that it would be difficult to prize one above the others. In my own daily routine, I have to agree with Michael Pollan: cooking provides an immersive experience in which all the senses are engaged, a creative pursuit utterly removed from work and digital screens, in which I can allow my mind to be absorbed by the task at hand and at the same time renewed.
 
mary M. May 1, 2013
Cooking for people is love. It's not any expression of love but real love. When you cook for (i.e., love) people, they love you back. I am so completely selfish.
 
elainers May 1, 2013
To build a healthy and happy family!
 
JamieLee May 1, 2013
There's nothing more wonderful about getting to know the fuel that we're putting in our bodies - cooking allows us to use all our senses to explore everything that food has to offer.
 
Anitac May 1, 2013
I love to cook because it brings me joy and I hope that my family and friends are filled with joy and love everytime they eat! Home cooking is also so much more healthy and delicious!
 
jamcook May 1, 2013
Cooking is creative, tactile and delicious, and my kitchen is my favorite place. Cooking for your friends and family makes them healthy and happy.
 
Quinn May 1, 2013
For me, the most compelling reason to cook is to grow and foster and nurture relationships with family and friends. To create a meal with them in the kitchen and then sit down to enjoy the flavors and smells and conversation with them is an experience that's so intimate, so edifying, and priceless.
 
flom May 1, 2013
I've been cooking for myself and others say 25 years. And I'm tired of it. In fact I think it's wasteful to cook for 2 or 3 people instead of 10 or 20 or 1000 at a restaurant. (Thinking of water wasted in cleaning pot that produced once chicken instead of 20 today, extra dishes for keeping leftovers, gasoline to go buy forgotten ingredient). But I'll continue to do it because there aren't that many organic restaurants. I think I'm a fine cook, but I love going out to get food. Even at fast food places I think- thanks for making me food and cleaning up.
 
creamtea May 1, 2013
I cook to feed my family well and healthily. Simple!
 
nightkitchen May 1, 2013
To gain a sense of independence, so you're not beholden to a certain 8-block radius of takeout and delivery or crestfallen when a favored place suddenly turns into a bank. A lot of dishes gilded with nostalgia can't be exactly replicated, but there's honor in trying and you can build up your own repertoire of new favorites. And once you start to cook, you realize you are not beholden to the exact wording of a recipe either, so it opens up a lot of possibilities.
 
erinbdm May 1, 2013
What I wonder about is not why I cook, but how so many people survive not cooking for themselves! I love choosing exactly what I want to make and cooking it, I love putting wholesome foods in my body, and I love teaching my children the importance of family meals and food preparation.
 
mkultra1000 May 1, 2013
Cooking brings the people I love together at the table to share their events of the day, discuss world events, and all the large and small joys and tribulations of life. It's the best way to introduce the many different friends I made and let see what new friendships can form.
 
Jenni D. May 1, 2013
A few months ago, my doctor diagnosed me with a heart defect. It was a difficult truth to stomach (no pun intended), but it now inspires me to treat my body as a temple... knowing that I can prevent any further damage to my heart by eating healthy and being physically active. You really are what you eat...
 
Monta M. May 1, 2013
It's very simple... I want to know what's in my food.
 
jenlorch May 1, 2013
Habit compels me to cook. I have never questioned the value of this habit due to the many levels of satisfaction it provides. My mother happily cooks. Her mother happily cooked. I hope my habit inspires in my kids a joy of cooking and an appreciation of the arts, the sciences, and the traditions that can be demonstrated while providing nourishment.
 
RTW7 May 1, 2013
For me the most compelling reason to cook is the knowledge of and control over what goes into my body and the bodies of my husband and our five children.
 
csixto May 1, 2013
My most compelling reason to cook is memories. It doesn't matter if I'm making a new dish or recreating one of grandmas dishes I enjoy sharing and making memories around the table with food at it's center.
 
Alison J. May 1, 2013
Knowing my son and I are eating well and not poisoning our-self. Freedom
 
Megan M. May 1, 2013
The most compelling reason to cook is to retain control over what I consume.
 
Janani H. May 1, 2013
I feel self-entertained when i am cooking and a sense of excitement exists when sharing the food with family knowing that the food is safe and tasty when made at home!
 
connieapples May 1, 2013
Economies of scale. I can feed more people for less when cooking at home :)
 
Jessie P. May 1, 2013
the most compelling reason to cook for me is basic nourishment coupled with the fact that I know exactly what I am eating.
 
Stephanie P. May 1, 2013
I'm gluten intolerant, so cooking (and baking) have become critical in ensuring that I, and my family as well, am consuming food that's safe but also delicious. Beyond that, cooking is my favorite means of relieving stress and showing people that I care about them.
 
lmsygnec May 1, 2013
There is a sense of zen when preparing a meal. Also, it is fascinating to see science in action when cooking!
 
Tamara M. May 1, 2013
There are many reasons, but health is the top for me. There are no nutritional mysteries in my own kitchen.
 
Marielle D. May 1, 2013
The most compelling reason for me to cook is that it makes me deeply happy. That there are so many benefits of doing so -- the increased nutrition, the knowledge of exactly what I eat every day, etc. -- is almost secondary. I just couldn't imagine not cooking.
 
Allison W. May 1, 2013
I think that cooking for someone, providing them with not only food but also your time, effort, and care is one of the most nurturing acts one can commit to. Its an opportunity to nourish their body and your shared relationship.
 
Cook J. May 1, 2013
I love the serene feeling of cleaning and chopping veggies and fruits. Also, spending time with my husband prepping our food. Then, it is wonderful to know that you are eating whole food that you have lovingly prepared.
 
Mark S. May 1, 2013
For me, it is about making something enjoyable to share with my wife and/or friends. If I'm cooking for myself alone, I veer into much simpler meals whereas, if I'm cooking for others, I don't mind taking a good long time in the kitchen.
 
Desert D. May 1, 2013
Virtually anything I cook or bake at home will (eventually, with practice) taste better than manufactured food.
 
Iris V. May 1, 2013
For me, the most important thing about cooking is having control over what I'm putting into my body. You just don't know when you eat out, get takeout, or processed food. It's kinda scary when you really think about it!
 
cookerycoach May 1, 2013
It's my creative outlet that ends up not only giving me pleasure but giving those I love delicious, healthy experiences with food which they might not have had.
 
GL May 1, 2013
Although there are many reasons to cook, fundamentally I think I'm lucky because I just like to. There is no more satisfying end to the day than puttering around the kitchen with good healthy ingredients, a glass of wine, and a friend or two to share with.
 
missmertz May 1, 2013
It's one of the most human things to do. All animals need to eat. But by cooking our food, we don't just consume, we create.
 
Kristin N. May 1, 2013
I'm lactose intolerant, so cooking my own meals allows me to control the amount of dairy I eat. Better still, learning how to cook taught me terms, techniques, and recipes so that when I eat in a restaurant I have a better idea of how my food is prepared and what ingredients might be snuck in!
 
Judd May 1, 2013
It is the only way I can ensure that I am getting the quality nutrition I deserve(for me and my family). Plus nothing beats your own food.
 
Reynaul May 1, 2013
Two of the most compelling reasons that I find to cook is 1) I'm hungry! and 2) my son is always hungry! :-) Plus, I try to be mindful about what he puts into his body and since he is only 20 months old, his food comes from what I give him. So I try to make it the best I can. I saw this book in the bookstore and I can't wait to read it!
 
Jacqueline B. May 1, 2013
I just like growing things, then eating them...but mostly because I'm hungry and broke.
Very excited about Mr. Pollan's new book, he's brilliant!
 
goldengirl72 May 1, 2013
I cook as an expression of love -- love for food, how the ingredients go together, and how it allows me to be creative, but MOST OF ALL, it's my way of showing love for my family and friends. There is nothing like that nourishing feeling of creating and eating a good meal (simple or extravagant). For me, cooking is good for my soul and I cannot imagine not having that in my life.
 
EmilyUni May 1, 2013
The best reason to cook is to eat the tasty food when your done!
 
CrabCakes May 1, 2013
I want to share something delicious with the people that I care about. This includes the prep work, too - some of my favorite memories are of cooking with family and friends.
 
lswartz2 May 1, 2013
I cook because feeding people good food is a great way to show I care about them.
 
Cbmcleod May 1, 2013
I cook because I love the art of turning ingredients into a delicious meal, even if the result is something simple (and it usually is!).
 
Bonnie L. May 1, 2013
It's the opportunity to create something that makes people happy, and healthy at the same time.
 
SamG May 1, 2013
I think the most compelling reason to cook is to share the experience of preparing/sharing a meal with friends and family and without any scary unknown ingredients!
 
Brooklyn L. May 1, 2013
It's something I can control in life. When I cook, it's like all the problems, stress and chaos evaporate. I'm in my kitchen with good ingredients and have the freedom to do what I want. It's just soothing.
 
melanie L. May 1, 2013
I feel better about serving food that I have prepared to my family because at least I know what's in it!!
 
Jennimo May 1, 2013
I cook for the health of myself and my husband! We believe in putting healthy whole foods into our bodies and by doing that it will keep us happy and healthy!!
 
dlpeters87 May 1, 2013
Why cook? Because I love to do it. While it can be very hectic or very simple, I love the planning, the prep, the cooking and sharing of the meal with loved ones. I love the feedback and the sense of something done well or even failure when I reached a bit out of my skill set. It just brings me a great sense of purposefulness.
 
AMJ May 1, 2013
Food cooked at home simply tastes better!
 
Candaceelise May 1, 2013
Food is a gift and cooking is part of that gift. I love the little moments in the kitchen that allow me to slow down. I could throw dough in the food processor, but I love taking the extra minutes to knead. The extra steps are what I really appreciate.
 
Christina H. May 1, 2013
Cooking is an act of love for me. I feed my family healthy, tasty food and get to sit down with them while we enjoy it and each other together.
 
kathy B. May 1, 2013
Why cook? Hands on best way to stay connected with nature, with the earth, with our family and cultural histories. Slow down, participate, create. Smell it, taste it, share it. Life!
 
Heather S. May 1, 2013
Exploring new flavor combinations is the most exciting and compelling reason to cook. Caramelized pear with rosemary Manchego cheese tartines on 100% rye with a lovely white sangria, sorry restaurant industry I think I'll stay home tonight.
 
Renee W. May 1, 2013
You can transform something as basic and mundane as fuel into art, or love, or expression.
 
CarlaCooks May 1, 2013
Home cooking is important for so many reasons: it's healthier to cook with whole ingredients, it's cheaper in the long run (less medical bills later in life!), it tastes better than processed food, you have total control over what goes in your body, and it's much more eco-friendly! But the main reason I love to cook is that it's a way to show people you love them.
 
lblonski May 1, 2013
To me, cooking is as much about gaining sustenance, as it is about connecting to the past. Old recipes passed down through generations, remembering and replicating customs and foods of my Ukrainian/Scottish/German/Polish heritage....
 
jmattjack May 1, 2013
Cooking....nothing has more power to heal more than something from the soul.
 
ktchnninja May 1, 2013
to unwind after a long day at work and really enjoy making something with my hands, from start to finish, and feel like I created something beautiful, visually and taste-wise... not to mention the moment you share with friends and family when they enjoy the same beauty in what you've made for them! (Was that really more like seventeen reasons disguised as one?)
 
Fairmount_market May 1, 2013
Cooking is a great outlet for creativity, but without the pressure and burden of having to produce a permanent work of art. Instead you produce something that transiently delights, brings joy and a sense of community, nurtures and nourishes, and creates fond memories without cluttering your life.
 
Heyk8 May 1, 2013
I don't know what's more compelling to me, the pleasure of the act of cooking itself or the pleasure of feeding my family healthy handmade food. Or maybe the pleasure of supporting all the farmers we know and love and visit whenever we can. Or maybe the mist compelling thing about cooking is just the joy if getting to eat it in the end!
 
Heyk8 May 1, 2013
The typos in my comment, however, NOT so compelling!
 
jude1 May 1, 2013
So my grandchildren will know how food is supposed to be.
 
Rosanna May 1, 2013
For me, the most compelling reason to cook is based on the ability to incorporate quality of ingredients into a meal, and know exactly what is in a dish. Fresh, sustainable ingredients will always beat anything that is already prepared. Not only do I feel good eating it, but it is better for my health too.
 
Gingerly May 1, 2013
Cooking is my chance to be creative on a daily basis. The food that I grow, pick and prepare for my family is all the art I can muster some days. But if I've had my time in the kitchen, I feel like I'd done something worthwhile and meaningful with my day.
 
Adri_LifeNourished April 30, 2013
Cooking is heritage, an art in many ways, and just an essential part of life that requires mindfulness and purpose just like anything else we do in life.
 
Essentialchef April 30, 2013
I cook because I like to make people happy and making them happy with healthy foods (as whole as possible) is a plus. For me, cooking is my zen and my strength. It's a direct way, when done in the right way, to show love.
 
Alia B. April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason to cook is so that we can teach our kids, the next generation, how to do it. If we can get them in the habit of cooking whole food, maybe it will stem the obesity epidemic and all of it sequela.
 
Jr0717 April 30, 2013
Cooking brings you into an intimate relationship with your food...what you have the privilege of consuming that day for lunch, dinner, what have you. Considering that too many people don't get that opportunity--to eat and enjoy food as though it may never be scarce--that relationship between cook and cooked is invaluable, and should be appreciated and held dear.
 
Pat E. April 30, 2013
Why do I cook?....Because as a cook I am joyfully challenged to make even the simplest cheese on toast a beautiful, creative, and delicious experience. I can intellectually innovate with random bits and pieces at hand from the pantry and the garden to create, evermore than any recipe with a grocery list, a one time meal experience that is all the better for being unrepeatable. I can devour cookbooks like novels but use the ideas rather than than the recipes to further my skills. When I use my grandmother's mixing bowl or my mother's dishes I am connected to my past and extending to the future. Like Julia...I am not a chef...I am a cook. I cook for my family, my friends, and myself...and I share with the people who share my passion. It is truly a joy!
 
greglum April 30, 2013
Like Pollan implies, cooking is a fantastic way to get people together. You get to share something you love with people you love. And we need to eat anyway, right? So why not maximize the experience?
 
Jennifer A. April 30, 2013
Perhaps this is too corny, but I think that it is love, in all its variations, of you partner, your family and friends, new acquaintances, and collleagues. When I am cooking for anyone in my life I want to be thoughtful and creative, and for them to feel considered and special (and nourished, delighted, and content)
 
Gail V. April 30, 2013
I cook because I like to eat! And I like to eat tasty food that is relatively healthy... that's very hard to do if you just buy prepared food. I also sometimes cook because I *don't* like to eat a particular thing. Cauliflower and I have not had the best relationship in the past, so I tend to try new and interesting recipes using it ... hoping it will win me over.
 
Pepper R. April 30, 2013
My most compelling reason is passion....passion for freshness, uniqueness, flavor and the joy of creating something healthier for my family and friends.
 
Connie C. April 30, 2013
Most compelling reason: Cooking is life-giving in every way.
It brings a personal touch to such an intimate, integral, and crucial part of our lives, those we love, and strangers. It brings people together from all walks of life and allows us to communicate in a heart language that crosses all boundaries.
 
nosher April 30, 2013
you can make something beautiful, right in your own kitchen.
 
nosher April 30, 2013
You can make something beautiful, right in your own kitchen.
 
mlschless April 30, 2013
Because cooking is food for the soul. The food nourishes the body, but it's the cooking - and sharing it with others - that nourishes the soul.
 
To share food with your friends and family. To share a piece of your heritage.
 
Alice M. April 30, 2013
There is something so deeply soul-satisfying about preparing your own food. Cooking equals nourishment on all levels of being. Even the finest restaurant meal cannot compare.
 
Keira E. April 30, 2013
When you cook your own food, you know what ingredients are, and are not, in your meal. The ingredients are fresh and as flavorful as you can pick out yourself. It is also far more cost-effective, social, and nutritious. Home cooking can even be more efficient, if you consider that you get to be home while you're cooking, instead of out on another errand. That is a big bonus for us with our busy family.
 
Ida Y. April 30, 2013
To have a connection with the food that nourishes us and the people we cook/eat it with
 
Chandra C. April 30, 2013
I cook to fuel my body with nutritious foods. I love the process of smelling fresh produce and seeing the final product of a rainbow on my plate.
 
sexyLAMBCHOPx April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason to cook is to nurture the ones I love with unprocessed, delicious meals.
 
Rob N. April 30, 2013
To create. Also, to eat.
 
Chaya B. April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason to cook, is the connection to your food, and knowing what is in your food. I want to control what I am eating and I do that by preparing my food from scratch as much as possible. I am just now reading Omnivores Dilemma, and learning so much more than I already knew. Love it. I do like to prepare extra food, so some meals are just reheating, good tip to save time.
 
Cassy April 30, 2013
I love to cook because it feeds my soul as well as my body. In the kitchen, I'm able to connect with the ingredients (preferably locally grown, which are fresh, whole, and unprocessed) and take the time to be creative with them. The best part is when I'm able to share my creations with my loved ones. Providing pleasure for their taste buds and good nutrition for their body just tickles my soul. The joy of cooking and eating arises from knowing from where the ingredients come and from being the one that transforms them into a dish - sometimes exotic, sometimes a failure, but always an adventure.
 
Laura W. April 30, 2013
I usually am just cooking for myself, my inspiration coming from what I have at hand to cook. Right now that means what I get from my organic coop or from my community garden plot. I love combining vegetables and grains.
 
Kristin G. April 30, 2013
For the pleasure it brings me and those I feed. To spend time bringing a recipe together and then enjoying it with friends and/or family is wonderful, and is something that I can easily do in my own home.
 
LLStone April 30, 2013
I cook because I enjoy feeding my family and friends tasty and nutritional food. I also think it's a lost art, and a life skill worth teaching / learning. I want my children to learn how to feed themselves and others.
 
KiwiAndBean April 30, 2013
To nourish my family and myself; to make responsible and conscious choices about, and hopefully influence, what is grown and sold; and to shake off the stress of the day.
 
dudleyd April 30, 2013
For me, cooking is the ideal way to bring families and friends together. There is nothing like having loved ones hanging around the kitchen, preparing delicious food, drinking wine and partaking in conversation!
 
SeaJambon April 30, 2013
Food is love -- preparing and cooking food is sharing that love with those most important: friends, family and even self.
 
Jeffrey A. April 30, 2013
It keeps me on my game. I have to stay "sharp".
 
Janice S. April 30, 2013
For our family this means that Mom is not moody, Dad's knees feel better, Son's acne stays in check and Daughter can focus on school work. We are happy as a family because each one of us feels nourished and loved.
 
ShannonMM April 30, 2013
I love working with my hands to create something delicious. There is an inherent satisfaction and healing quality to cooking your own food. Cooking for myself or my family is love manifested on a plate!
 
Jessica36 April 30, 2013
I cook because when I step into the kitchen, I become an artist. An artist with a passion for discovering and creating delicious, wholesome, healthful foods that nourish and satisfy mind, body, and soul. Stepping into the kitchen allows me to drop the rest of my day, become present, remember who I am, and express who I really am through culinary creations. I follow recipes, I combine different tips from here and there, and then I forge my own path to create something that is my own unique expression. I cook to express love and affection for those close to me...giving gifts of a thoughtfully planned meal or a much-loved special treat. I cook to remember all that I learned in the kitchen from my mother and grandmother...much about cooking, but even more about life. I cook to remember my heritage, where my family came from, and the way my ancestors lived and ate. At times, I cook and escape within a new recipe, perhaps explore a new culture and be momentarily transported to a foreign land. There are many reasons I cook, but to boil it down, I suppose I really cook to live and to love.
 
kyyrivergirl April 30, 2013
good health / life.
 
Lily L. April 30, 2013
Cooking allows me to share the wonder of food with friends and family. All together, experiencing the same sights, smells, and textures - it is the closest thing we have to reading each other's minds!
 
Juliann April 30, 2013
Cooking shows that you care. When you cook, you know your ingredients and what is going into your meal. When you cook, you are showing your love to whomever is going to eat the product of your time and effort. I always say that I love to grocery shop, because food always fits! I love finding the meal that pleases my family and then pleases me!
 
jessiebee April 30, 2013
Cooking food has always been a part of any culture. I think keeping it alive and handing it down to our children is vastly important.
 
Karen M. April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason is that cooking makes me happy: the relaxing process of prepping, the resulting delicious smells, and sharing the tasty goodness - either in person or by photo (isn't that the purpose of Facebook and Instagram?). I need a little joy in my life every day and cooking does that for me.
 
Marlalala April 30, 2013
Family, in my home it all comes down to family. Immediate family and family through friendship. Gathering together to sit, eat, talk, reflect and enjoy.
 
magproctor April 30, 2013
Apart from wanting to eat tasty food from the comfort of my own home, I really value the process of cooking. There's something about building a dish step by step, from raw ingredients to a complete and delicious final product, that I find immensely satisfying.
 
QueenSashy April 30, 2013
Because it is an art, science and a form of meditation.
 
annasmithclark April 30, 2013
It is our roots, our culture and the way many of us show our love; as a parent, as family and as a friend. It is a way we nurture those around us. It is a common ground. Bringing good food to the table, we pull our families and friends and communities together. It is a core to so many social and festive events. I love to feed those around me the best sourced and the best quality because I have made a point to get to know many of those of whom grow and make our food. I feel like I am supporting my world from farm to the bellies of my family and community. And most importantly it brings to my children not just the core nutritional building blocks but I pass on the ability and love to nurture those around us.
 
Athena D. April 30, 2013
Just knowing what the exact ingredients are going into my food and body brings me peace of mind. It scares me to think what "...and other natural flavorings" could possibly contain.
 
Sylvia R. April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason to cook for me is knowing what I'm eating, being in control of my health, and for the taste. It just tastes better than anything I can get in most restaurants. Also, it's cheaper.
 
stacy S. April 30, 2013
Transporting yourself either to the past...sitting in your grandmothers kitchen, or to the future creating your own dishes and traditions.
 
Marianne K. April 30, 2013
crEATivity
 
Elizabiete April 30, 2013
It's unreasonable to expect to eat without ever cooking. By choosing ingredients carefully, growing some of my family's food, knowing everything that goes into what we eat, where it came from and how it was made, I cease to be only a consumer. It makes me more human.
 
Alexis S. April 30, 2013
Cooking for peace of mind is the most compelling reason to cook, for me. Knowing that I have done something good for myself is enough to keep me coming back to the kitchen.
 
Cindy L. April 30, 2013
Being with friends while cooking and lingering at the table with them.
 
MorganE April 30, 2013
I love the process of cooking, making something out a bunch of other things. Also, knowing exactly what is going in my body, voting with my dollar (yay local!) and being able to make brownies whenever I'm craving chocolate!
 
KSanJose April 30, 2013
I cook because I like to eat & I like to know what ingredients are in what I'm eating. It's a creative outlet during frustrating times.
 
healthierkitchen April 30, 2013
The most important reason I started to cook is to control the quality and content of what we eat. What I found is that it is a creative and enjoyable process as well.
 
mleconge April 30, 2013
I cook because it's a loving, creative outlet. I have a (mostly) office job, with long hours. Nothing is more relaxing than stimulating my brain in new an interesting ways when thinking about taste, texture, visualization, and health (type 1 diabetes for both me and my son). I feel more rested after chopping veggies than I do after watching a screen or nearly anything else!
 
PRST April 30, 2013
Cooking is something I can give of myself to others, from my hand to theirs.
 
Vysherwood April 30, 2013
I cook everyday- it's a lifestyle and a commitment. I believe that you can't go wrong with anything made from scratch and high quality ingredients. So I eat whatever I want-my tastes are diverse and I get bored easily, so coming up with new and different dishes each week keeps me engaged and excited, lets me get creative, and satisfies me more than any take-out or meal at a restaurant.
 
Iuliia U. April 30, 2013
I cook to fill the free time by something creative, the empty stomach with something delicious, the dining room with tempting odors and the eyes I love with tenderness and gratitude for caring...
 
AoibhinnGrainne April 30, 2013
My most compelling reason to cook is to a) control sourcing and 2) because it's fun, creative, and loving! Ten years ago, my late Husband was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. His specialist neurologist explained to us that eating real food, and avoiding chemicals...as much as is humanly possible...was the best thing we could do. His basic research was indicating an environmental component to this disease and modern food was chemical-laden. So we did. I purged everything and learnt all I could about real, organically sourced food. I've never looked back. By cooking, I not only shower love on my family and friends by doing something fun and creative, but I control where the food came from, what sort of food we eat, and how much. And I encourage the sort of food that means something: like local farmers who are doing it well. But here, I'm preaching to the choir! ;p
 
pandapotamus April 30, 2013
To show someone how much you care.
 
KellyinToronto April 30, 2013
More so then with words, I know that when I cook for someone is how I express to them that I care about them. I cooked for my boyfriend to seduce, I cooked for my friends for their company, I cooked for my family in times of sorrow or of great joy. I cook to engage my family and friends and I cook to nourish everyone's appetites for food and fellowship.
 
Tiffany D. April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason why people should cook at home is shared times, strong memory association, the satisfaction of knowing what went in to your meal (including love and care), and the message it sends to all who enjoy the meal that we are looked after; we are provided for.
 
prandial April 30, 2013
"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons." T.S. Eliot
Some of the best connections I've made with family and friends sneak upon us around the dinner table. Cooking together is how we mark another day and measure our growth.
 
Girlfromipanema April 30, 2013
Cooking is akin to zen meditation. You cannot help but think of how small you are compared to the rest of the universe, the stalk that held the corn, the farmer who plucked it, the miles it traveled, the people who will eat it.
 
Blair M. April 30, 2013
I love the creativity of it - going to the store and picking out beautiful ingredients, experimenting with new combinations, and, whether I spend 20 minutes on a weeknight dinner or a few hours on an elaborate weekend mean, enjoying something I know is healthy, made from whole ingredients, and delicious.
 
dbourdo April 30, 2013
To show my love.
 
BerkeleyLinda April 30, 2013
My most compelling reason to cook for myself is to avoid overly processed foods.
 
McKellen R. April 30, 2013
Cooking to me is an opportunity to learn about my strengths and weaknesses. I get to challenge my strengths by trying more complex dishes or looking for ones that reduce my intake of highly-processed foods. But, by cooking, I also confront what my weaknesses. I am prone to high cholesterol, but cheese has always been one of my favorite condiments. So, through cooking, I can learn what else I really love (like arugula and coconut oil) that keep me from even thinking about cheese. One last comment I have is that I am compelled to cook because it connects me with the vast community of cooks/food writers (and those who have passed such as Julia Child) who educate me and inspire me.
 
pvonreis April 30, 2013
To eat something delicious and nutritious! (And be working, working, working in the kitchen so the kids will play by themselves.;-))
 
nancymscherer April 30, 2013
I like to hear people say yummm
 
Emilie R. April 30, 2013
Among many other reasons, perhaps the deepest is that I am compelled to cook because it is the expression of my love and caring for myself and for my family and friends.
 
foodfighter April 30, 2013
sense of accomplishment when something comes out better than expected
 
marta_madigan April 30, 2013
Even the most elegantly plated dish in the most happening restaurant in town won't give me as much satisfaction as my own humble home-made dinner.
 
HalfPint April 30, 2013
I crunch numbers during most of my waking hours. It is my job, but not all that I am. Cooking gives that other part of my brain a creative outlet.
 
Brett April 30, 2013
I think the most compelling reason to cook is the chance to connect with my family over food.
 
Andreea S. April 30, 2013
cooking is the best way to control the quality, freshness and amount of ingredients. I enjoy cooking a lot, especially when I do it for my friends and family.
 
Lee E. April 30, 2013
I think the most compelling reason to cook at home is to know what is in your food and how it is prepared.
 
raheela April 30, 2013
Cooking at home is the catalyst to bringing the family together for a meal, and hopefully for my husband to do the dishes.
 
Tiffanie S. April 30, 2013
Cooking grounds you and connects you in a very real way to what you are putting in your body. That act in itself makes you more conscious of what you put into your body and gives you some control over over your life at least in a small way.
 
Holly M. April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason for me to cook is to teach my child how to provide for himself. Relying too much on eating out diminishes that privilege.
 
Wayne M. April 30, 2013
It allows me to decompress from my workday. Relax, take my time, be creative, and taste with my mind. My house smells wonderful, and puts a smile on my wife and daughters faces.
 
Paula A. April 30, 2013
I cook at home because it reminds me to slow down and notice my senses. Cooking at home not only nourishes my body, but also my mind and soul. But more importantly, it reminds me of simpler times in my childhood growing up on a farm and watching my grandmother carefully prepare food for the day.
 
Miachel P. April 30, 2013
The satisfaction of creating is dynamite alone, but I love cooking even more when it provides nourishment and smiles to loved ones.
 
Lynne L. April 30, 2013
My compelling reason to cook is to make food that makes me and my family better! Better emotionally, physically, even spiritually! Home cooked food improves my life!
 
Marcia C. April 30, 2013
I am continually inspired by the foods we have in our world; the tastes, aromas, textures, combinations, and how my body responds to these sensual craving induced cooking and eating experiences. The ahhh of our first fresh mint from the yard...with quinoa, lemon, feta, and more. Grateful for fire, water, air, and earth that MP explores...and the magical synergy of ingredients, transformations with heat, and deconstruction with enzymes.
 
Karen B. April 30, 2013
I am an artist, a potter, who gardens a little bit. So for me cooking is a creative outlet. Putting together a meal that my husband and I say, "o man, I should have wrote this down" But some how I think if I did that the journey to that meal would be lost a bit.
 
jggeb April 30, 2013
I'm in control of every ingredient and I know exactly what I'm eating (and that at least most of the time it's very healthy). There's great comfort and empowerment in that!
 
Rachel R. April 30, 2013
It's not only cost effective, but a lot of fun to get in the kitchen with my boyfriend and cook yummy food that I know will be appreciated by the people we share it with!
 
Savour April 30, 2013
To me, the most important reason to cook is to connect with the fundamentals. We don't grow (most of our own food), we don't build our own shelters, or make our own clothes. We rarely even provide our own locomotion. Cooking is something that can be part of modern society but that connects us to our most basic selves and fulfills our most basic needs, and as a result it's enormously satisfying.
 
BethFalk April 30, 2013
Cooking combines art, science and a little bit of magic, and the result is something I can give to the people I love. What could be better than that?
 
jane.colton3 April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason to cook is to show someone that you love them. What better way than to take the time and care to provide them with the most nutritious and delicious food possible?
 
cascadians April 30, 2013
when I cook and put love in the dish along with awesome ingredients and share with friends family and co-workers, I feel like I belong here.
 
Maribeth M. April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason for me to cook is to keep me away from all the hyperprocessed foods! And I love the way I feel when I look at my plate and realize I made it all myself!
 
Michelle E. April 30, 2013
Cooking for my family is way for me to ensure I am giving them the best possible food. I am working toward cutting out processed ingredients and cooking from scratch allows me to contol what they eat.
 
Tawan K. April 30, 2013
We cook to please our palate and to nourish our inner food-snob.
 
Sweet F. April 30, 2013
After seeing Saru Jayaraman speak about the restaurant industry (based on her new book, Behind the Kitchen Door), I think we'd all do well to give the restaurant industry less power and influence.
 
Jessica M. April 30, 2013
I find love to be a very compelling reason why I cook. I love my self, my husband and my son, and cooking for us is a way to express that love. Not only do i know I am nourishing our bodies in the best way I know how, but I also get to give them something that makes them feel good and hopefully, tastes delicious!
 
Kaleifornia G. April 30, 2013
To know what is in my food and be able to own it!
 
kerbi April 30, 2013
I want my kids to know that they can make their food and that it doesn't come from a store or a restaurant and that they have the power to create it themselves (and that it tastes better that way). And obviously it's healthier that way as well. My kids call us "from scratch cookers". We live in NYC where food is so accessible all the time, it's nice to slow down sometimes.
 
Michael B. April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason to cool is being able to take ingredients that are amazing on their own and tiring them into a masterpiece. Cooking an eating the food we cook brings people together and allows us to start an nurture relationships!
 
Michael B. April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason to cook is being able to take ingredients that are amazing on their own and turning them into a masterpiece. Cooking and eating the food we cook brings people together and allows us to start and nurture bonds and relationships!

Sorry about all the mistakes. Lol
 
Lindsay April 30, 2013
I cook so I can relax & unwind after a long day. I usually listen to NPR too. A Sunday night roasted chicken, plus Wait Wait Don't Tell Me on the radio... come on... it's the best!
 
ETinDC April 30, 2013
So you can give yourself exactly what you want or need at any time.
 
donutgirl April 30, 2013
I'm compelled to cook because I want to feed my family and friends great food.
 
chl0525 April 30, 2013
My husband and I cook because it's a great way for us to work on something together. We get to be creative in ways that are not attached to our paychecks. And, speaking of paychecks, they go further when you're not eating out all of the time!
 
imnotjello April 30, 2013
Most compelling reason to cook? For me, food is just much more satisfying when I've cooked it myself vs. take-out or prepackaged.
 
tkagan April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason to cook is to experience and then taste how separate ingredients come together to form one dish. I am most fulfilled and challenged when I stray away from a recipe, and use my instinct to combine flavors, to create my own dishes - the recipe, or another dish I've had is the inspiration.
 
Robin L. April 30, 2013
I cook because real food does not prepare itself.
 
Erin N. April 30, 2013
I think the most compelling reason I cook is to bring people together, whether it be family, friends, or strangers. I personally find it very calming to cook at home versus a restaurant kitchen, but regardless it is still bringing people together.
 
Linda S. April 30, 2013
I cook because it's the most cost-effective, time-efficient way to eat healthy, control what I eat, and incorporate traditions from my family's cooking (northern Italian, from Emilia Romagna, where they know how to honor the ingredients by doing very little to them). And it's fun--it provides me with endless opportunities to learn about food and cooking technique.
 
shannonlewis1970 April 30, 2013
Nothing makes me happier than leaning against the counter and creating something that someone will love.
 
Louis H. April 30, 2013
You should cook because it is an awesome way to prevent getting horribly sick and possibly dying. In addition, it can often be fun to play with fire. But most importantly, you can totally impress the ladies, and that's the ral reson I startd cooking.
 
Mary E. April 30, 2013
I cook to pay homage to local farms and the goodness they bring to the markets of Baltimore. Knowing I have the freshest ingredients, I then pay homage to my family and table and delight all our senses.
 
gdubya April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason to cook is that is what our history has been about. If you think about he search for spices, which turned out to discover the world was round. That was all about cooking. Now the world is still round, and it seems to be about having a tomato in the grocery all year round. (But those aren't really tomatoes when you think about GMOs). So the fast food joint and the microwave have taken us away from what food was -- just food. And you didn't need the term organic in front of it, because it hadn't been industrialized. Cooking is about food, real food.
 
MCakes April 30, 2013
Well first and foremost....I love to eat food! I also love the creativity that lends itself to cooking, combining different ingredients, searching out creative new recipes. My day to day work does not necessitate very much creativity, so cooking is my outlet. I cook because the ingredients themselves are beautiful and can be crafted into food that is just as good or most of the time even better than the highly-processed quick-fix foods found in the center aisles of the supermarket. There are other reasons that I cook, but for the most part it is for the sweet reward of my efforts!
 
Sunfell April 30, 2013
My reason for cooking is quality and ingredient control. Food allergies have made it necessary to cook from scratch, and have made me mindful of the entire process, from shop to plate.
 
Margy L. April 30, 2013
Cooking is one of the simplest ways to create something each day. You don't need anything else but the raw ingredients in front of you and by the end of the process, you've formed a completely unique work of temporary art.
 
EmilyC April 30, 2013
For me, the reason to cook has evolved over time. As an adolescent, it was to fulfill a craving. As a college student, it was to save money. As a young professional, it was to explore new foods and learn new techniques, to make three course dinners on weeknights, and to throw dinner parties for friends. Now, as a mother, the primary reason is to show my kids the importance of slowing down, spending time as a family at the dinner table, and finding pleasure and beauty in preparing and sharing good food with others.
 
Kristen April 30, 2013
I cook because I love taking the time to know what's in the meals I eat (and share), and spending quality time talking to loved ones and creating something special with them in the kitchen. We all spend too much time on individual activities these days, hiding behind computer and smart phone screens. It's a welcomed change of pace to be on our feet, chopping, stirring, smelling, and tasting something wonderful.
 
Eddie G. April 30, 2013
I cook because I like to know what I'm eating, I like to embrace the challenges that come with using the ingredients you have or what's seasonal, and it's a great teaching tool for the kids.
 
KaleAndAle April 30, 2013
I cook so I know what I am putting into my body and I love the challenge and fun in making something and enjoying it in both a taste and energy sense.
 
Cheyenne April 30, 2013
I think the most compelling reason to cook is because it enables me to know exactly what is in the food I am preparing. I want those for whom I prepare food, including myself, to have only the safest, most nutritious, best tasting food that is available.
 
ohsovane April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason to cook is, it has become part of our freedom. Freedom from chemicals, big corporations and dependence on big brands to feed us!
 
wjjjww April 30, 2013
because i'm a control freak. i want to know what's in my food!
 
Annette M. April 30, 2013
I cook for love! The love that I was shown when I was a young girl in the kitchen with my mother and my grandmother, and the love I want to show my own family today.
 
Karen C. April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason to cook is to be able to feed the people you love delicious food that you made yourself with the fresh and healthy ingredients that you picked yourself. It's rewarding and beneficial on so many levels: spirit, mind and body.
 
J2MK April 30, 2013
The journey to my wife's heart was through her stomach :)
 
caitlin April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason for me to cook is....to know how to cook! So that I have skills, knowledge and confidence in the kitchen, and can enjoy the process of preparing food for myself and my family.
 
Lydia O. April 30, 2013
I cook because I want to know what is in my food, and I love making as many things as I can from scratch. By avoiding the center of the grocery store where all of the prepackaged foods are, I am able to control the amount of hidden fats, salts and sugars. Another rule about cooking I have for myself is not to use a microwave: I sold mine a few years ago and have never looked back. By taking more time to cook food it is easier to take time to enjoy it. I am a HUGE fan of Michael Pollan's work and would love the opportunity to read his new book!
 
Anne E. April 30, 2013
I've already noticed that my two-year-old son enjoys his meals more when I involve him in cooking - we talk about how the water looks when it boils ("bubbly!") and smell the spices along the way (his favorite is smoked paprika, or "prika!"). It's difficult to balance a full-time job with motherhood and a commitment to cooking most meals at home, but I've made it a priority - and it's worth it watching my son eat with gusto, saying, "It's yummy, Mama!"
 
Foodie F. April 30, 2013
I cook to give my family the most nutrition in the tastiest way. I want my children to be food snobs and have a taste for high quality, fresh foods. As someone who seems to trash my kitchen every time I cook, I look for something that is worth the disaster in nutrition and taste, and that is why I often turn to Food52!
 
Cucharrrita April 30, 2013
Because it keeps my everyday life real! After working all day on a computer, what better than to shop for local produce, walk home, kick your shoes off, turn the music up and get creative!
 
PatsyLee April 30, 2013
Because I love to eat good food.
 
yesjessiam April 30, 2013
Cooking allows me to connect with my family, friends and neighbors on a deeper level. Triumphs, failures, new and different tastes, textures and experiences all shared with people you love make every single moment in the kitchen something positive.
 
Brotha P. April 30, 2013
For me, the most compelling reason to cook is out of love. Cherish yourself, cherish others; buy only buy choice ingredients, including meats, produce and fresh veggies. I desire to live a long healthy life and I certainly want that same thing for my family and friends. I love sharing and cooking for them all!
 
Emma,Criswell April 30, 2013
Patience! For me, living in NYC I forget what it's like to be patient sometimes. For me, cooking forces me to slow down, be diligent, and wait for my ingredients to be ready. Because they won't taste as delicious if I can't wait for them to get where they need to be.
 
LucyS April 30, 2013
I read the Omnivore's Dilemma years ago and I've been trying to cook - at least vaguely - according to Michael Pollan's mantra. I'm in a very stressful graduate school at the moment, and cooking is how I stay sane. Like Mr. Pollan said, cooking is a way to block out the stress and complication of the rest of the world, and do something I KNOW I can do well, and consistently. When I move the kitchen is the first thing I set up, because I know cooking will help balance the stress of moving. I spent last summer in Europe and will be leaving for another three months in a few weeks, and when I felt lonely, my cure was to wander around the farmers' market and try to find something weird to take home and figure out. Cooking is my outlet for creativity and clarity, it keeps me calm, and it restores a sense of control (at least over a few small things.)
 
Susan B. April 30, 2013
Health. All those unpronounceable ingredients simply can't be good for you. And there is nothing better than putting together a meal made from fresh, simple ingredients and sharing it with those you love!
 
KayMarie April 30, 2013
what do you think is the most compelling reason to cook? When I cook I get a much greater variety of food and flavors than I can get from the local chain restaurants or the prepared food aisle. I'm always bringing home some random bit of produce I've never had before and seeing what I can do with it. I also love trying things from cuisines from around the world that haven't been Americanized to where they have lost a lot of the flavor profile that makes them unique.
 
MaggieMMW April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason for me to cook is that I enjoy the process and being a Type A, control-freak, somewhat picky eater type - I get to make my food EXACTLY the way I like it. (And don't have to be that annoying person at the restaurant asking for substitutions and explanations).
 
Mary T. April 30, 2013
When you live in a farm rich community and don't thoroughly enjoy cooking locally grown whole foods you are totally missing the boat. I can't imagine eating processed foods if you easily have another choice. Michael Pollan is so dead on with what he is sharing with others in his writing!
 
Nicole O. April 30, 2013
My mother grew up on a farm in England. We grew up with a garden in our backyard. Then I went to school and everyone had packaged "cool" food. I traded my homemade cookies and treats for cello-wrapped processed stuff I didn't get at home. I ate that way for years. Then...I had a kid. they say having a kid changes everything and they sure are right. I reassessed my choices. Now we cook at home all the time, stay away from all processed foods, limit meats, non-organic, gmo's and sugars. While under the haze of all that fast, easy pre-packaged stuff I'd lost my love of food. I forgot what GOOD food tasted like. Now we relish in it. My 3 yr. old daughter and I love to cook together, she's not a picky eater either. I am really hoping that this love of "real" food and smart choices stays with her.
 
Jill J. April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason for me to cook is to teach my children. I know it sounds idealistic but the truth is, we spend quality time together in the kitchen where they learn a skill as well as the ways to best nourish their bodies. Plus, I receive help to get supper on the table. :)
 
Burnt O. April 30, 2013
The most compelling reasons are control over the foods and quantities of food I eat. There is also the de-stress factor. I find it relaxing in most instances. It builds anticipation for a meal when you can smell it and see it being prepared. And finally, it creates intimacy on a fairly primal level with whomever you share it with, be they family or friends.
 
ccdqt April 30, 2013
For my son, it's to know exactly what is in his food and ensure it is healthy, organic and fresh. For me and the non-allergic, it's also to know what is in our food. Today I saw a newsclip of a woman who opened a can of green beans, threw the beans in the microwave and then her son found the body of a dead frog. Canned green beans is bad enough, but a frog! Nasty.
 
ccdqt April 30, 2013
Sorry, I forgot to add that my son has multiple food allergies.
 
Diane L. April 30, 2013
Cooking is actually more convenient for me than going out, since I live far from town.
 
Irmavep April 30, 2013
For me, it's a fun way to spend time with my young daughters at the end of a workday while feeding all of us-- something I have to do anyway. (I am lucky in that they love tasting ingredients as we go-- anchovies! fiddleheads! preserved lemons!-- and sometimes they even discover a new favorite food.)
 
Denise W. April 30, 2013
At breakfast each morning my husband and teenage children ask, "What's for dinner Mom?" Cooking gets us together at the table every night to share news, problems, hopes and dreams. And when there is something really good to look forward to for dinner (different for every family member)getting through the school or work day is "a piece of cake" .
 
Sharon N. April 30, 2013
Control. Exactly why Michael shops the perimeter of the store. I want to know what goes into my food (as best I can), plus I love to cook so it's not a chore for me. But in the end, even if I struggle with weight issues, my diet is full of 'real' food, prepared by me.
 
KateK0670 April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason for me to cook is to pass on and to share stories. Food is about family and friends. And about taking the time to sit down at the table and share together. Cooking also allows me to control what I'm eating, and make sure it has the best possible ingredients. Finally, cooking allows me to be creative. I've had more fun in the last few months creating dishes with new and interesting flavors. It enhances our day to day life! (ok, that was 3 compelling reasons ;-)
 
stella April 30, 2013
For me, the most compelling reason to cook is to know what i am allowing in my body. So many people blindly ingest food that is served on the go, at restaurants or from a frozen meals purely for convenience and truly have no idea what it is that they are putting in their bodies. We are what eat, we should know what that is and treat our bodies like the temples they are by giving it only the best whole foods available. Cooking allows us to not depend on those "fast" convenient options.
 
tjpieper April 30, 2013
The most compelling reason to cook? To have the best tasting food made from the best ingredients that I can grow, gather, trade for and buy.
 
Elena C. April 30, 2013
Cooking allows you to be more in touch with what goes into your body which helps you make better choices.
 
Ellen R. April 30, 2013
It gives me the greatest pleasure to know I serve healthy meals for me and my family. As a kid I grew up with soggy, salty canned veggies and it's a miracle I love all kinds of vegetables now. My family appreciates my efforts and when my daughter was younger, she'd even compliment me on my presentation!
 
Tian L. April 30, 2013
Turning many separate physical components and transforming it into one dish that can nourish us physically, spiritually and emotionally. It's not that different from Jackson taking his brush and paint and turning it into a signature Pollock hanging on the walls of MOMA.
 
qktiles April 30, 2013
It is creative, nurturing and the most satisfying of the domestic arts.
 
Michelleology April 30, 2013
Cooking gets you in touch with food in its natural form. It connects you to the farmers who grow it and, of course, is usually more healthful that eating out.
 
usrtchi April 30, 2013
The creativity that comes with cooking. I rarely follow a recipe through. Usually, I go to them more for ideas. I like going through what I have on hand and making something spectacular. Taking leftovers and remaking them into a totally different dish. You always know what's in your food and other people are always so shocked to find out what you used.
 
alliemarie April 30, 2013
Why cook? Because it's a symbol of our humanity and our community. It brings us together, helps us express our love for each other, and encourages us to nurture, foster and plan a beautiful future for those ahead of us.
 
darksideofthespoon April 30, 2013
For me, the most compelling reason to cook is to teach my daughter how eating healthful is tasty, sometimes quick and easy... I don't want her to be the kind of person that lives off of McDonalds. I want to teach her how to cook so that for the rest of her life she can be independent and knowledgeable.
 
Marian B. April 30, 2013
I love this!