In today’s modern world, our fast-paced lifestyles often mean that time is a scarce commodity, and cooking and eating well can fall gradually down the list of priorities the more packed and busy our schedules get. Those never-ending to-do lists can feel stressful and overwhelming, making it the simplest option just to grab something on the go for breakfast or lunch – but what if recommitting to the simple life and falling back in love with cooking was the key to better overall wellbeing – and less stress?
Cookery is an art. Chef Shagun Galani follows the principles of natural health and as founder of Kinpira, she promotes simple living and simple food through the Kinpira Therapy Kitchen.
‘Kinpira’ is a Japanese word that refers to a cooking technique that has been used across the globe for centuries, and in essence, means slow and simple cooking with everyday and locally sourced ingredients in order to ensure the essential nutrients are preserved.
At the Kinpira Therapy Kitchen, Shagun takes the stress out of nourishing yourself with the wholesome ingredients, preparing slowly cooked home style meals designed to ensure all ingredients retain their nutrition and natural taste – and provides cookery workshops for those looking to uplevel their health and take control of their own sense of wellness.
A haven for those in need of a little culinary therapy, the Kinpira Therapy Kitchen is a testament to the idea that simple life and simple food can be transformative – and that the effects of cooking and eating well everyday can be quite profound.
Cookery as therapy
If you already feel stressed out about there not being enough hours in the day, then the idea of slowing down is likely one that fills you with panic. But in actual fact, doing just that and taking the time to focus on cooking and eating well could be the key to restoring that sense of calm you’ve been missing. Nourishing the body and providing it with the nutrients it needs to be on top form will help to ensure your energy levels are where they should be and that you feel sharper mentally, leaving you better able to cope with the pressures of modern life.
Kinpira Therapy Kitchen advocates for the idea that preparing everyday meals yourself can be both a therapeutic and soul-enriching experience, and that something doesn’t have to be complicated to be enjoyable. Whilst slowing down is at the heart of its ethos, that doesn’t mean making life more difficult for yourself – in fact, quite the opposite.
Cooking can, when approached with mindfulness and simplicity, engage the senses in a way that goes beyond the mere act of preparing sustenance, and the act itself can be intensely recentering. But more than that, it can be uplifting and provide a much-needed energy boost – and we’re not just talking about the eating of the food at the end of it.
As a busy full-time mum herself, Shagun knows only too well the pressures that come with the day to day, but she has a long-held passion for food and nutrition, and while working in clinical pathology after finishing her Bachelors Degree in science, the importance of good nutrition for a healthy body and mind became more apparent to her than ever. Going on to become a certified natural chef through the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London and in Nutrition in Everyday Life, she’s been teaching wholesome cooking across the globe for over 20 years. Now, as well as running Kinpira Therapy Kitchen, she even finds time to actively support charities with her cookery skills, by organising fundraising campaigns and cooking workshops.
A multi-sensory experience
Cooking is truly a sensory journey, and while taste is perhaps the most obvious element of this, it isn’t the only one. Taste, touch and smell all come into the equation, and sound, in particular, can be surprisingly relaxing. We’re not talking about the whirr of the microwave or the rumble of the oven, but rather, things like the crunch of chopping vegetables and the gentle sizzle of oil in a pan. This may go some way towards explaining why cooking ASMR videos have become so popular online in recent years, with many people choosing to watch them as a means of unwinding whilst also gathering inspiration for their next meal.
The vibrant colours of fresh, seasonal produce and the tempting aroma of herbs and spices are all part of the experience, too, transcending the act of eating to make the entire process an enjoyable one that is therapeutic for the body, mind and soul. It really is a feast for the senses, in more ways than one.
Food for the soul
Often, the simplest – and most delicious – recipes are rooted in our cultural backgrounds, passed down through generations – and for Shagun, this is very much the case. The wisdom of grandparents and great grandparents, and returning to the simple approach that was so beloved of generations gone by is, she believes, a testament to just how healing traditional and uncomplicated meals can be. Of Indian origins herself and having grown up with her grandparents, Shagun was always curious to learn different cooking techniques that incorporated the same fresh ingredients and spices they used, and it’s an ethos that has continued to influence her cooking and her approach to it until today.
In Shagun’s experience as a natural chef, the impact of going back to basics and embracing simplicity in cooking has been profound. In a world where fad diets and seemingly endless cookery trends have peppered the health and wellness landscape over the years, Kinpira Therapy Kitchen is proud to do things differently.
At a time when fast food has become the order of the day for many, the contrast between simple, home-cooked meals and preservative-laden grab-and-go alternatives, with their artificial flavours, is quite evident. At Kinpira Kitchen, individuals are encouraged instead to embrace the act of cooking not as a chore, but as a privilege, and to enjoy every stage, from the preparation right down to the eating.
