On this International Chef’s Day, I am revealing my Chef’s secret. You have often seen me singing dancing and creating a fun environment while I cook. Ever wondered why? Here are the answer and my secret why I cook the way I cook.

Food is not just physical or limited to taste, it is something that drives our living force. Food is an integrated part of the spiritual energy, emotions, and consciousness. The ancient text says that if we cook with a positive mind, then people eating will feel positive and while cooking with a negative mindset people eating will feel lazy and lethargic. The mindset while cooking also affects the taste, if cooked with positive thoughts food automatically tastes great. One fact that everyone will agree on is that there is no taste in the world greater than the food cooked by our mothers. Everyone will find their mother’s food tastier and comforting than eating even the most expensive food. Also even if you copy the recipe of your mother step by step, measured by the measure you will still not find it even close. What is that extra special ingredient our mothers add to make it so comforting and delicious?

That extra ingredient is love, positive mind, and affection while cooking. When a mother cooks food for her children she cooks it with her motherly affection and love. This is the secret that makes the food stand out from everything. Ayurveda says that the mood we have while cooking is what we induce in food and people eating will directly get affected by the mood. For example, if someone is cooking in anger then people eating that food will certainly quarrel, if someone is cooking lazy then people eating will become lethargic. Food is an integral part of life, we need to eat to survive and it is the food that becomes the energy and blood that drives our life.

Therefore the ancient Indian texts have always advised to cook and eat in a positive environment. Cooking during the night or in times of eclipse is prohibited as darkness is a symbol of negativity. To bring in positivity to food the concept of Prasadam or offering food to gods also emerged. Indian culture leaves no stone unturned when it comes to positivity in cooking. The ancient Indian texts have always given us some rules and regulations to cook. These rules are followed by most of the Indian households. The ancient texts say that one should have a bath, wear clean clothes, do their prayers and then cook food while constantly thinking of god. The person who is cooking should not have long nails or hairs uncovered, as nails and hairs can contaminate the food.
Now the next question comes how to stay positive while cooking?

This is simple, keep your mind clean of other thoughts and stress, focus on cooking and just sing and dance with me while doing some “Namak Shamak Namak Shamak Dal Dete Hain” and see the positive energy you feel and the positivity and happiness you will be spreading.”