1 . We are what we eat. From high-calorie meals to low-fat lunches, much of our health depends on what we eat. We know about the benefits of eating properly for our physical well-being, but cooking food is turning out to be good for our mental well-being as well.

Some people are now thinking highly of the treatment value of cooking food. It’s not just about the end result but the experience someone goes through. Dr. Mark Salter, a famous doctor, said, “Baking and cooking are good therapies (疗法) that help patients develop planning skills, short-term memory and social skills-all of which suffer in mental illness.”

TV chef and author Nadiya Hussain agrees that cooking is great for helping our mind. She loves to bake and became the champion of the TV show, The Great British Bake Off. She says that “Baking’s always been about therapy. It produces something tangible. Unlike something abstract (抽象的), you can touch and enjoy it! Besides, your creations taste delicious and make you feel good. It is a process that really increase your level of life satisfaction.

Certainly, creating some delicious food has helped some of us get through the recent lockdown (禁闭); it’s helped take our mind off things and given us something to do. People have said that kneading dough (面团) to make bread, for example, has given them a sense of calm and control. Research has shown that doing creative tasks, like cooking, makes us feel happier.

Nicole Farmer, who studies how food influences our biology, behavior and mental health, said that baking is an important tool for our socialization and mental health. She thinks that cooking gives you the opportunity to cook for others-in turn, providing the opportunity to improve and build relationships. It is a rewarding experience.

Hopefully, as we start to mix with friends and family again, we can enjoy the benefits once more and put us all in the right state of mind.

2 . Why Cooking Meals at Home Benefits More Than Just Your Wallet

When hunger strikes, the convenience of entering a fast-food restaurant or ordering takeout can be terribly attractive.     1     However, when it becomes a routine, your waistline, your wallet and your health can be badly affected. Here are four reasons to make cooking at home your option.

It’s cheaper.

You could spend $100 at a fancy restaurant for one dinner,     2    . When you shop smart and get creative, you needn’t spend more than $1 on breakfast, $2 on lunch and $4 on dinner to purchase wholesome, healthy foods. Here’s how: Buy in large quantities and stick to store-brand items.

It may reduce your exposure to certain chemicals.

The most surprising benefit of cooking at home can decrease the amount of harmful chemicals you’re exposed to.     3     Common in takeout and fast-food packaging, those chemicals have been associated with many diseases. Food packaging can also contain other damaging compounds (化合物).

You can better estimate calories.

    4     That is why people tend to consume extra calories when dining away from home. On the contrary, you have complete control over the food materials when you cook in your own kitchen. Choosing fiber-packed vegetables and meat containing less fat will help keep your calories under control. So will the way you cook your food. Rather than frying, choose roasting.

    5    

Many chefs use a lot of salt while cooking. While salt can make food tastier, too much of it is linked to serious health issues like heart disease and high blood pressure. At home, you can control the quantity of salt on your plate by seasoning food in other ways, like using lemon juice. The same goes for sugar. You can use smaller quantities of natural sweeteners like honey to add sweetness to your food. Too much added sugar is linked to some diseases as well.

4 . Advice for Cooking on a Tight Schedule

From my experience, there are three main reasons why people don’t cook more often: ability, money, and time.

    1    Money is a topic that I’ll talk about another day. So today I want to give you some advice about how to make the most of the time in the kitchen. Here are three tips for great cooking on a tight schedule:

Think ahead. I usually think cooking is a pain when I’m already hungry and there is nothing ready to eat. So think ahead of the coming week. When will you have time to cook? Do you have the right materials already?    2    

Make your time worth it. When you do find time to cook a meal, make the most of it and save yourself time later on. Are you making one loaf of bread?    3    It takes around the same amount of time to make more of something. So save yourself the effort for a future meal.

    4    This may surprise you, but one of the best ways to make cooking worth your time is experimentation. It gives you the chance to hit upon new ideas and recipes that can work well. The more you learn and the more you try, the more ability you have to take control of your food and your schedule.

Hopefully that gives you a good start.    5    And don’t let a busy schedule disappoint you and stop you from making some great changes in your life!

I love my parents and often cook them in my spare time. I make dumplings most frequent because of three reason. First of all, dumplings are delicious and health. Secondly, I can put nearly all kinds of things into dumplings as fillings, what include different meats and vegetables. Finally, to the some degree, making dumplings are a form of art. There aren’t any set rules so it’s pleasant to trying different folding techniques to make my dumplings special. No matter what shape we make, I always make sure the dumpling is well sealing and this is absolutely the most important rule.

Today I tried cooking a simply dish myself. I like eating frying tomatoes with eggs, and I thought it must to be easy to cook. My mom told me how to preparing it. First I cut the tomatoes into pieces but put them aside. Next I broke the eggs into a bowl and beat them quickly with chopstick. After that I poured oil into a pan and turned off the stove，I waited patiently unless the oil was hot. Then I put the tomatoes and the beaten eggs into pan together.＂Not that way，＂my mom tried to stop us but failed. She was right. It didn’t turn out as I had wished.

10 . Food is everything to me. I believe in its ________ that brings people together, I’ve had a great ________ in cooking since I was a young boy. My family would sit around the dinner table, telling stories and ________ dishes with all the flavors (味道) of a ________ Puerto Rican meal. The idea of being together as a ________ around a table of traditional recipes ________ led me to where I am today as the chief chef and vice president of Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

I worked in various cooking positions before ________ my place within the company, though I ________ as a dishwasher, I had a dream to succeed in the exciting food industry. Later, as a(an) ________ hand in the team, I worked hard, and our team was given the name FILO (first in, last out) ________ we came in early and stayed late each day.

I came to ________ the true meaning of harmony when I worked with our founder, Ruth Fertel,who had a magic ________ for everything, not only for her famous ________ but also for relationships, ________ everyone like family. Being at Ruth’s Chris gave me a sense of ________ early on in my career. I wanted to be sure that the feeling ________ through in my role at Ruth’s Chris. And I do ________ no effort to take care of both my teammates and each unique guest who ________ me to continue cooking and bring ________ to their faces. I love serving cuisine that leaves a(an) ________ impression with them, just like my family meals did for me.