How To Live a More Edifying Life By Prepping Your Food

There is a constant bombardment from different sources telling us to focus all our energy on an empty pursuit of “happiness.” Whether it’s an influencer, the news, or an ad on TV, there are a million voices shouting that we should be implementing a million quick and easy fixes to be healthier, hit our goals, and ultimately make our lives easier. Don’t get me wrong, I am not against making my life more efficient, and quick hacks have their place, but surprise! When our lives become strung together by acts of convenience, it robs us of one of life’s most important pleasures: the beauty of the processes.

In the name of efficiency, we have become distanced from more edifying life practices- actions that enrich your mind, body, and spirit. Actions and processes that may seem simple, maybe even be deemed unnecessary in this era. Processes that may conveniently be replaced by a hack or more efficient method, but when executed leave you feeling accomplished, assured, and somehow more at peace.

Today, people don’t cook their own food as often; dinner is less communal and more transactional. We may know where our food comes from, but most agriculture has been forced to become corporate. No one knows their butcher, fishmonger, or local farmer. Processes that were once common practices, like preserving meats, fruits, and vegetables, making cheese, etc., have been forgotten.

This lack of connection to nature, our food, families, and communities cheats us out of having deeper, almost spiritual relationships with ourselves and the world around us. The loss of the process and the overuse of the “quick fix” not only disconnects us but leaves us handicapped, dependent, and maybe without knowing it searching for edification.

But fear not, friends! There is hope, and while there is no quick fix to the issue, luckily the solution doesn’t have to be an overwhelming one. Small yet significant changes can make a world of difference and help promote edification in your life. I often felt disconnected, and I didn’t know it at the time, but I craved a more edifying lifestyle. I can’t recall the exact moment, but probably during a pity party moment making dinner for myself, I noticed that whenever I was cooking, I would feel relief. The small moment at the end of the day or during the weekend caused me to concentrate on one task at hand, learn from mistakes, and produce something that brought joy and nourishment. And it wasn’t just that, instead of crying over my unfulfillment, I could cry over chopped onions, I genuinely was forced to ground myself.

Leaning into these processes is more than making better meals it’s a shift in how you live. You start caring more about your food and taking the time to be intentional. You trade a little screen time for an extra half-hour in the kitchen, preparing something truly nourishing. Over time, you begin prioritizing quality ingredients and paying closer attention to what you consume. Each of these steps is an edifying act, practices that enrich your mind, body, and spirit.

Prepping your food isn’t going to magically lengthen your attention span or fulfill you completely. But it may help you get off your phone, or nourish your body in a more significant way, reconnect you to your community, and give you a little more autonomy to feed yourself without relying on pre-packaged food.

You don’t have to be a homesteading expert or food influencer to prep your food or make things that are complicated. You also, don’t have to cook every day! Maybe you’re a mom, someone balancing work and school, or just someone who has never spent time in the kitchen. Maybe your life is overwhelming and you have a lot on your plate, there’s not much time for cooking every night.

Just cooking your own food once in a while, or challenging yourself with a recipe or process can promote that edifying domino effect on your life. You decide the level of difficulty you have the capacity for in that moment. Even the smallest step toward an a more fulfilling life is a step worth taking. Quit starving your soul! Prep your food! These forgotten or overlooked practices don’t just fill your plate; they feed your spirit. In the end, edification isn’t about perfection or doing it all, it’s about choosing the kinds of acts that nourish you, connect you, and remind you that life’s deepest fulfillment is often found in the process itself.