| Perhaps it shows through your fidgeting, your nail-biting, | | | | you should always have flour, sugar, milk, eggs, and a |
| or your sleepless nights. You feel as if you are under a | | | | collection of spices on hand. |
| great deal of stress, and you are searching for relief. | | | | In order to minimize your stress level, it's best if you |
| While there are many stress reduction strategies you | | | | can start by preparing meals for yourself or for close |
| could use, perhaps one of the best is one of the | | | | family members. After you become proficient, you |
| easiest: cooking. | | | | might want to graduate to dinner parties, but don't |
| Cooking is an art as well as a science. It takes a great | | | | expect to produce a seven-course meal during your |
| deal of patience and persistence to become an | | | | first few attempts at gourmet cooking. Select menu |
| excellent cook, and some of your experiments will | | | | items that appeal to you; chances are they will appeal |
| inevitably end up in the wastebasket or down the | | | | to your family as well. |
| garbage disposal. | | | | Another possible stress-reducer is a cooking class. |
| Yet, there is something incredibly relaxing about sauting | | | | Such classes are often offered at local community |
| onions, grilling chicken, or barbecuing pork. You can | | | | centers, YWCAs, or community colleges. Don't take |
| become mesmerized by the scent of your culinary | | | | the course for credit take it for fun. The idea is to |
| sensations. | | | | have a relaxing time by the stove. |
| The process of stirring, chopping, or slicing can be | | | | You'll enjoy camaraderie with other students and you |
| highly therapeutic. You can feel a sense of | | | | might even socialize with them after class. Taking a |
| accomplishment at the end of a good meal which can | | | | course can expand your horizons, helping you to |
| further reduce your stress level. | | | | become a well-rounded person. |
| If you plan to take up cooking as a serious hobby, it is | | | | It is true that cooking can be stressful. After all, if you |
| best if you begin by purchasing a good cookbook. | | | | have five children to feed, you're low on food, and you |
| There are even cookbooks that promise you | | | | have a baby who's crying, meal time can be stress |
| stress-free entertaining. Selecting the cookbook can | | | | time. |
| be a relaxing experience in and of itself. | | | | However, if you permit yourself plenty of time to cook, |
| Usually, cookbooks are loaded with interesting, | | | | you choose recipes that you enjoy, and you look at it |
| eye-catching pictures. You can also pore over delicious | | | | as a hobby rather than drudgery, cooking can be quite |
| recipes, imagining how to prepare them in your kitchen. | | | | relaxing and can actually help lower your blood |
| Next, you might want to invest in some sensible | | | | pressure. |
| cooking supplies. This will help to alleviate your stress | | | | One thing you'll want to watch when cooking is portion |
| when the time to cook arrives. | | | | control. If you make too much pasta, you might be |
| Make sure that you have aprons, a grater, a good set | | | | tempted to overeat, causing health problems on down |
| of knives, a colander, an array of sauce pans and | | | | the road. Also, it can be important to cook meals that |
| skillets, and a collection of interesting plates to set your | | | | are heart-healthy and that are not loaded with sugar |
| creations on. The better prepared you are, the less | | | | and calories. |
| stress you will experience in the kitchen. | | | | Otherwise, you could face the stress of battling a |
| Then, it's time to head to the grocery store. It's best if | | | | weight problem. However, if you make sure that you |
| you have prepared a list in advance based upon the | | | | cook plenty of vegetable dishes, you limit the number |
| recipes you hope to make. This will save you time, | | | | of desserts you prepare, and you keep close track of |
| stress, and possibly money at the supermarket. | | | | your carbohydrate intake, cooking can be a pleasant, |
| Make sure that you schedule enough time to go | | | | stress-reducing experience. |
| through the grocery store you don't want to be | | | | The more practiced you become at gourmet cooking, |
| rushed.In addition to the items needed for your recipes, | | | | the more you will look forward to it, and the less |
| it's a good idea to pick up some staples. For instance, | | | | stressed you will feel. |