2 . In this fast-paced life, it’s hard to find the time to cook. But cooking for other people can be fun and beneficial because it comes with some positive psychological benefits.

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Performing an act for another human being, like cooking for them, is a form of selflessness. And it can make people feel happy and connected to others.

Cooking is a form of nurturing (养育).

When it comes to cooking, you are feeding someone, which is necessary for survival. Cooking for others is nurturing.     2    .

Cooking can create bonds.

If you’re cooking for someone, even if they’re not present during the act, it can absolutely bring a sense of closeness in that you re expressing your love and care for someone.     3    . And cooking for others helps us build and strengthen those connections.

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Not only does cooking for yourself help you eat more healthfully, but it also sends yourself a message that you are important. Cooking can also help raise your confidence.

Cooking is a practice of mindfulness.

Cooking can encourage us to really focus.     5    : walk away for a minute and you can burn the onions; check in with your phone and your water can overflow.

Cooking brings us together, and it continues to create communities - and with community comes feelings of connection and happiness. Now all you have to do is find the time to add cooking into your busy life.

3 . Many of us love July because it’s the month when nature’s berries and stone fruits are in abundance. These colourful and sweet jewels form British Columbia’s fields are little powerhouses of nutritional protection.

Of the common berries, strawberries are highest in vitamin C, although, because of their seeds, raspberries contain a little more protein (蛋白质), iron and zinc (not that fruits have much protein). Blueberries are particularly high in antioxidants (抗氧化物质). The yellow and orange stone fruits such as peaches are high in the carotenoids we turn into vitamin A and which are antioxidants. As for cherries (樱桃), they are so delicious who cares? However, they are rich in vitamin C.

When combined with berries of slices of other fruits, frozen bananas make an excellent base for thick, cooling fruit shakes and low fat “ice cream”. For this purpose, select ripe bananas for freezing as they are much sweeter. Remove the skin and place them in plastic bags or containers and freeze. If you like, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice on the bananas will prevent them turning brown. Frozen bananas will last several weeks, depending on their ripeness and the temperature of the freezer.

If you have a juicer, you can simply feed in frozen bananas and some berries or sliced fruit. Out comes a “soft-serve” creamy dessert, to be eaten right away. This makes a fun activity for a children’s party; they love feeding the fruit and frozen bananas into the top of the machine and watching the ice cream come out below.