Spoons of Care

She stirred the soup slowly, inhaling the aroma of herbs and vegetables. Preparing and sharing home-cooked meals improves dietary quality and supports family bonding, which positively affects mental health (Fiese et al. 28).

Cooking also provides a sense of accomplishment and can enhance intrinsic motivation and emotional regulation (Renz et al. 73). Each spoonful was not just nourishment. It was attention, care, and love made tangible.

Works Cited (MLA)
Fiese, Barbara H., et al. “Family Mealtimes: A Contextual Approach to Understanding Childhood Obesity.” Economics & Human Biology, vol. 11, no. 1, 2013, pp. 25–36.
Renz, Alex, et al. “Cooking as a Therapeutic and Motivational Practice: A Review.” Health Promotion International, vol. 35, no. 1, 2020, pp. 70–80.