Combine self help book, with a how to cooking book, with a journal, and you get this delightful book. This is perfect for someone who needs accountability and structure while on a path to mental wellness. I absolutely love this.

Cooking can be therapeutic and this books show that. Along with some great recipes, instructions, this book also has a reflection section, questions, and information on future opportunities.

A unique culinary art therapy guide for healing anxiety through cooking. Provides how-tos, recipes, reflection questions, journaling, and sensitive support. Recommended!

I was intrigued by the premise of this self help book centered around cooking, but it will not work for everyone. The first assignment is to make a sandwich reminiscent of your childhood, which may be difficult for those of us with hunger and lack of food in our childhood and for those who simply didn’t eat sandwiches. The second assignment is to bake challah bread. Three of my kids are allergic to gluten and there is no alternative given for us. The third recipe is sushi bites and even though I know how to make sushi I found the recipe very confusing.

Along the way you are supposed to ask yourself questions about your communication style, focus on things like what utensils you use most, and so on. It may be a difficult book for people with disordered eating, food allergies, dietary preferences, etc. I didn’t find it very in depth with the psychological part or the food part. Some may find it to be a fun culinary adventure, but the lack of photos may hinder that for others.

I read a digital copy of this book via netgalley.

I’ve just finished this book and found it both useful and very accessible. It looks at the idea of cooking as a form of therapy, not just about making meals, but how the act of chopping, stirring, kneading, and baking can actually lower stress and ease anxiety. The author explains how cooking releases endorphins, which can benefit our mental health, and there’s a lot of insight into what anxiety is, who might suffer from it, and the different factors that contribute.

There are reflection exercises and simple food based activities you can be undertaken when feeling overwhelmed. There’s also a detailed section on pantry staples and utensils. The 8 week programme is clearly set out, with recipes and instructions woven through; I especially enjoyed the focus on breadmaking as a way of working with anxiety.

Overall, it’s a straightforward, easy read with plenty of prompts and suggestions. I think this would be very helpful for anyone dealing with anxiety, or simply looking for a calming, mindful way to spend time in the kitchen

Perfect book for people who struggle with stress or anxiety.
As someone with OCD, cooking can sometimes be very stressful and feel like a chore, and being a busy university student usually adds to that as well. I found the book to be very creative and well-structured, it teaches you how to approach cooking if you’re an anxious person and also gives you some insight into how our nervous system works.
I would of course, recommend this to anyone who wants to start cooking but maybe is going through a difficult time and is not sure how to approach the activity!

This was a really good book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Thank you to NetGally and the publisher for the ARC.

I love the idea of using cooking as a therapeutic method. By using a journal, enjoying the comfort of good, homemade food, with some tips along the way... this book can be a great use for those looking to live a more calm, relaxing lifestyle. I found this book to be beneficial in understanding that cooking our meals doesn't have to be a chore... it can be a moment in our life that we savor what we make, write about the recipes or life in general, and enjoy the slower moments in life.

This is an absolutely must-have book for those needing to slow down and enjoy life.

Thank you #NetGalley and #SheldonPress for the ebook #CookingYourWaytoCalm

Cooking Your Way to Calm offers a gentle, therapeutic approach to easing anxiety through mindful cooking. With structured lessons and relatable stories, it provides encouragement for those new to the kitchen or seeking calmer daily rhythms. While it may resonate most with beginners or readers looking for guided mindfulness, it’s an inviting concept with heart and warmth.

Cooking Your Way to Calm is a great combination of cookbook and self-help book.
It links and helps the reader link good memories of food, a healthy relationship with food with mental wellbeing with exercises, prompts and tips.
Well-executed.
The layout, design, and structure could have potentially been slightly different.

Book Review: *Cooking Your Way to Calm* by Julie Ohana

Rating: 4 stars

I recently finished reading *Cooking Your Way to Calm: Get Out of Your Own Head and Get into the Kitchen* by Julie Ohana, and I’m giving it a solid 4 stars. This book takes a refreshing approach to managing anxiety—by turning to the kitchen not just for nourishment, but as a therapeutic space.

The premise is simple yet powerful: many of us face daily stress and struggle to balance self-care, social time, and overall wellbeing. Julie Ohana suggests that the answer to calming those anxious thoughts might be right under our noses—in the act of cooking itself. Remember the last time you prepared a meal and savored that first bite? That sense of accomplishment and satisfaction can actually help reduce anxiety. The book guides you through how everyday cooking tasks—chopping, stirring, kneading—can become mindful activities that promote mental calm.

What I appreciated most was how the author, a licensed social worker and culinary therapy expert, structures an eight-week program focusing on different life skills linked to anxiety reduction. Each week highlights a skill like mindfulness, problem-solving, communication, or time and stress management, paired with recipes designed to put those skills into practice.

The book is approachable and easy to read, with a thoughtful inclusion of reflection exercises and simple kitchen-based activities for moments when you feel overwhelmed. I also liked the pantry staples and utensils guide—a practical touch for anyone wanting to start cooking more intentionally.

Overall, *Cooking Your Way to Calm* offers a clear, encouraging path to using cooking as a form of self-care. Whether you're new to the kitchen or already comfortable there, this book provides useful insights and gentle guidance. I’d recommend it to anyone dealing with anxiety or simply searching for a mindful, calming way to spend time cooking.

*Note: The lovely cover is just the cherry on top!*

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️