How Well-Being Photography Helped Me Eat Healthier: A Mindful Food Photo-Session
Photo-Magic in a tiny kitchen, Espoo, Finland, 2024
In this article, I'll share a cooking experiment I did last weekend using photography. I am ashamed to say that my parents have a bakery for 20 years and I just did my first-ever cake!
Why to mix photography and cooking?
Lassilan Tila, Espoo, Finland, 2024
I do not consider myself a very good cook and I do not necessarily like staying in the kitchen and try out recipes just for fun! I’d always rather grab a quick snack and head outside with my camera.
But my intention is what matters here. My intention is to eat healthier and have a balanced well-being. I would like to cook healthy for my family and be creative with my cooking and eating habits so I can turn it into a more enjoyable process. I use photography to support this intention.
I also use this photo-game as an ‘‘excuse’’ to make time to learn about healthy eating. This helps me stay engaged with my intention and gives me a boost of inspiration for my photography practice.
This method can also help you avoid the often-expensive pre-made cakes . By taking control of the process, you can create sustainable, affordable and healthier treats.
Photo-Cooking Guide
Step 1: Choose your recipe.
You can take it from cook books, blogs, you can ask your mom or a friend for a suggestion. The idea is to pick one recipe. If the recipe feels complex, ask someone more experienced than you to join your game. And now you have a double-well-being-win. Your social life will improve as well!
Step 2: Prep gear and food.
After you got all the ingredients for your recipe, I suggest you prep them in the portions needed for your recipe. It does not only look good to see all the small containers filled with different textures and colors, but it also allows you the space for your creative cooking session and ensures a fluid creative process.
Then, grab your camera (your phone is also ok). If you have, you can also bring:
- a tripod
-an extra light: a professional studio light, flash or any light you have in your home (I liked the light in my kitchen so I kept the set as it was.)
-any other props you want to play with to decorate your plate!
Pro Tip
Look for kitchenware that looks nice to you. You can look for a color theme or simply look for interesting textures.
Or bring flowers, ceramics, fabrics - anything that can help your cooking process and your food as pleasant as you want: both visually and emotionally.
Step 3: Start the Food Photo-Session!
Just place your camera next to you and set it beforehand to have it ready for the moments your eyes see something interesting that speaks to you. The nice thing to remember is that photographing your food can be much more than a snapshot! It can help you connect and be more mindful with the food you eat: its texture, color, smell, the way light changes it.
My almost perfect carrot cake with strawberries and vanilla oat cream
Friendly Reminders
Do not get very serious with it.
Be kind to yourself.
Like anything else, excess is never healthy. If you choose to follow my recipe, enjoy carrot cake as an occasional treat and pay attention to quality and quantity! Here are some tips to make it a bit healthier:
Use whole wheat flour or another whole grain option.
Reduce the amount of added sugar.
Use natural sweeteners like dates, honey or maple syrup (in moderation).
Add healthy fats like nuts or seeds.
Enjoy smaller portion sizes and share it with the others.
The multicooker made it easier for me to bake the cake
Make it yours!
I went further with my creativity and adapted the recipe for a healthier one. I went for Oatly's Swedish "Turkish oat-yogurt’’ combines with their vanilia cooking cream.
I also added some green lime zest and peeled its cover into the mixture. (Special tip: Fill a big bowl of fresh cold water and let your fruits and vegetables sink in a mixture of water, white vinegar and some essential oils if you have around - this helps you eat healthier by removing pesticides from your fresh food! I posted a link on how to do this at the end of this article).
After I baked the carrot cake, I simply cut it in two to create an upper and lower layer. You can try more layers if you want! After that, I got excited to create a real celebration cake with cream and extra fruits!
If this recipe feels too complicated, do not beat yourself up! There are plenty of easy vegan/vegetarian recipes available online if you search for them on Google. Your chosen recipe might take you only 10 or 15 min to prep if you want to!
If you ever want to try this, I would be happy to hear how it went for you! Drop your story in the comments below!
