Department of Health and Social Services Library

Mental Health Monday: Pi Day Edition

Baking For Your Mental Health

In honor of Pi Day (3.14), try baking to practice self-care! (Because math can be stressful)

Re-create your favorite pie!
Make it a fun family activity!
Instead of ordering out, try to re-create the recipe at home!

The idea of baking a pie at the end of a work day seems like the last thing anyone would do for their mental health. But if you were to take the time to cook one special item for yourself, your family, or your friends, baking can be a wonderfully therapeutic tool.

The key to practicing mindfulness is to stay within the present, so the mind doesn't wander and dwell on future to-do lists or past mistakes. The practice of baking is about staying present and focusing on the task at hand and follow the recipe step-by-step.

Therapeutic cooking, or culinary therapy, can help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. It encourages creativity, improves self-esteem, and can provide a sense of satisfaction at completing a task.
 

Need some inspiration? Check out a cookbook from your local library!
Below is a cookbook dedicated entirely to pie, available to check out with a Delaware library card.

The Essential Pie Cookbook by Saura Kline

ISBN: 9781638786122

Publication Date: 2021-10-26

Bake up sweet and savory pies at home with simple recipes Few things bring people together like a freshly baked pie, whether you're whipping one up for a family celebration or a date-night treat. No matter your baking skill level, this cookbook makes it easy to create your favorite pies with a collection of tried-and-true recipes for everything from savory pies to fruit pies, nut pies, chocolate pies, and more. This book of pies includes: Pie-baking 101--Learn about essential pie-baking equipment, how to properly execute techniques like cutting in butter and transferring dough to a pie plate, how to beautify your pies, and more. Classic and contemporary flavors--Explore a creative range of delightful pies, from the ones you know and love (like All-American Apple Pie) to those destined to become new favorites (like Salted Honey Pie). A variety of homemade crusts--Skip store-bought doughs with 6 simple recipes for tasty crusts you can make at home, including an all-butter crust, gluten-free crust, and cookie crust. Make bakery-quality pies at home with The Essential Pie Cookbook.