【Mindful Meals Note #01】From cooking for the family to “cooking to satisfy myself”

What is a “Mindful Meal”?

This is a phrase I've started using a lot lately.
It's not just about “cooking food”;
it's like a fresh start, a way to cherish myself just a little bit more.

How I feel about cooking every day

I'm in my mid-50s, and my children, who were once small, are now fully grown adults working in society.
Since we live together, my life consists of continuing to cook for my family.

Even though I cook for them every day, there's no big reaction, and I'm not particularly thanked.
Still, every day, I think about my family's preferences and health, consider our budget, and update my knowledge about food and nutrition while preparing our daily meals. (Though this is something everyone does as a matter of course.)

Honestly, I've felt this way many times.

“Why do I have to be the only one working so hard?”
“I put so much effort into making this, and I get zero reaction!”
“It’s hard to feel good when they praise store-bought food more than mine... haha”

Even for me, someone who loves cooking and does it for a living, I sometimes feel this way.

It started with a word from ChatGPT

I couldn't help but vent those frustrations—and the feelings I always have—
to ChatGPT (lol) ← how immature of me.
And this is what it replied.

Mindful Meal.

I felt it had a nice ring to it.

Even in the daily routine of cooking,
“I am making a Mindful Meal right now”—just thinking that made me feel a bit more positive.

What changed after I encountered “Mindful Meals”

Usually, without even thinking, I would prioritize “someone other than myself,” thinking about what my husband might like or what would make the kids happy.

But now,isn't it okay to prioritize myself?I've come to think that.

It doesn't mean “I'll just treat myself to luxury.”
“Making meals that my own body feels comfortable with.”

It's not that I won't make my family's favorites.
Thinking, “I'm making this because I want to see the look of joy on my family's faces,” is also a way of cherishing my own feelings.
That is what a “Mindful Meal” is.

My personal rules for Mindful Meals

Even before I encountered the term “Mindful Meal,” I already had my own personal rules for making dinner.

・Cooking time within 60 minutes (which is why my pressure cooker is a huge help!)
・Incorporate seasonal ingredients
・Plenty of vegetables, and (vaguely) keep nutritional balance in mind
・Avoid relying on store-bought powdered dashi, chicken bouillon, soup stock cubes, roux, or frozen foods as much as possible.
・Cook using only basic seasonings

Since I started being mindful of these meals, in addition to these rules,
・Make what I "want to eat"
has been added.

By setting a target time limit of 60 minutes, I feel a sense of accomplishment,
which has also led to a small boost in my self-esteem.

In these 60 minutes, I am centering myself again today.

I feel that these mindful meals ultimately
become something pleasant for my family as well.

Conclusion

"Being able to make what I want to eat for myself"
"Being satisfied by that cooking"

That is very simple, yet very powerful.
From now on, I plan to write about these "mindful meals" little by little in this note.

Bonus

In yesterday's note, when I said I might write because I wanted to get follows from friends,
this is what I meant by "mindful meals."