Last year, we featured 'How Cooking Can Change Your Life,' an animated short based on the work of In Defense of Food, The Omnivore's Dilemma, and Food Rules author Michael Pollan.

Students mix a dough, knead the shit out of it, bake it, and then burn all the thoughts that cropped up in a ceremonial act of letting go.

It's not just about giving them something sweet.

For years I’ve been bouncing from therapist to therapist, in the throes of an all-consuming vacuum of existential dread. But I've found that the physical act of cooking alleviates symptoms of stress and anxiety almost immediately.

We spoke to Julie Ohana, a culinary therapist based in Michigan, to get a better understanding of how cooking can help patients combat depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.

A little creativity each day goes a long way

And not just because you’ll end up with a homemade batch of double chocolate chip cookies.