For a brilliant and witty discussion of exactly this idea, see Mary Tannen’s October 2005 article in Real Simple Magazine (p. 93).

I’m so intrigued by the relationship between cooking and happiness. I’ve actually done a bunch of reading on it over the past 6 months - there’s really not as much written about it as I’d thought there would be.

One of the things that jumped out at me was the idea that the happiest people are the ones who are able to make good decisions, and make them quickly. Not just major life decisions, but all the little things we have to decide during the day.

Since we have to decide what to eat three times a day, and sometimes not just for ourselves but for others, too, it follows for me that the easier it is to make food decisions, the happier you’ll be. And I know it is a LOT easier for me to decide what to eat for dinner now that I know how to cook. With cooking, I also learned something about what I like to eat, and what my body is asking for (and what my mind wants, too).

Sorry for the long comment - I’m just totally into this subject and was so excited to see something related here!

And I absolutely agree that learning to cook is excellent advice for those wishing to learn to be happy. There is a peace and a joy to preparing something special to eat or to feed someone you love that cannot be matched by any other activity.

Truly, the depths of the ’souls’ of Haldeman and Erlichman are laid bare by meals of cottage cheese slathered in ketchup. (shudders) How can the spirit be nourished on such…I hesitate to even call them foods.

But when one is ill, often one’s body craves the nutrients it needs to repair itself. Heed its call, Mr. Henry, and don’t try to get better by sucking pebbles. When you are feeling more yourself, you’ll eschew the cottage cheese again and all will be well.