The Simple Food Rituals That Quiet My Mind on Difficult Days

 

By Chef Peesh Chopra

On difficult days, I don’t experiment in the kitchen.

I repeat.

I make the same tea. I cut vegetables the same way. I let the same dish simmer a little longer than needed. Not because it’s efficient—but because it’s familiar.

There were periods in my life when everything felt uncertain. Work was demanding. The future felt noisy. On those days, cooking became my refuge—not through creativity, but through repetition.

I realized that these small rituals were doing something powerful. They were calming my nervous system. They were giving me control when life felt overwhelming.

The act of rinsing rice slowly.
The smell of spices heating gently.
The quiet moment before the first bite.

These weren’t habits. They were anchors.

Over time, I stopped chasing complexity and started honoring repetition. I understood that comfort doesn’t always come from new flavors—it comes from familiar ones made with care.

Today, when I feel overwhelmed, I don’t search for motivation.
I return to ritual.

Because sometimes, the simplest meal prepared the same way every time can be more healing than any advice.