“Why bother? It’s all going down the toilet anyway.”

Ten years ago, I would have kissed the person who said that from pure happiness.

But let’s look at it differently.

What else do you gain from learning the art of combining ingredients?

I’ll help you out.

1. Confidence.

You know that food will never become a problem, no matter where life takes you.

You know how to walk into a grocery store with almost nothing available and still put together a satisfying, nutritious meal.

You know how to turn a simple head of cabbage into something genuinely enjoyable.

That’s a superpower.

2. Endless opportunities for connection.

Conversations that would never have happened otherwise.

Recipes.
Shopping tips.
Dinner parties.
Work events.

Wherever food is involved, you always have something to contribute.

“Do you know which type of lentil has the best nutritional profile?”

“Hmm… interesting texture. Do you think they used aquafaba or a plant-based egg substitute?”

Food is one of the most universal topics on Earth.

And the more you understand it, the easier it becomes to connect with people.

For me, those two reasons alone are enough to justify spending time in the kitchen.

Not because food is everything.

But because food touches almost everything.

3. You become more selective about what you eat.

Once you learn how to cook, you stop being so easily seduced by food.

That irresistible smell of fast food on the street?
That perfectly glazed pastry sitting behind the glass?
You can still appreciate it—but you no longer feel like you need it.

Because you know what good food can taste like.
You know what goes into it.
And, more importantly, you know how to make something satisfying yourself.

You become less dependent on whatever happens to be available around you.

You choose instead of simply reacting.

And somehow, that makes eating not only healthier, but also calmer.

You learn to cook, and you gain a little more freedom around food.