For many people, cooking tends to be a fun activity when they feel like doing it. Unfortunately, that’s not how stomachs work; the monster within us all has to be fed multiple times a day—preferably before it gets hangry—whether we feel like cooking or not.

However, food is more than just sustenance. “It makes me so sad when people talk about food as fuel. Food is pleasure, food is culture, food is connection! I wake up every morning feeling giddy about the meals that lie ahead,” the host of The Sporkful food podcast and the mastermind behind the Cascatelli pasta shape, Dan Pashman, told Bored Panda.

Having to cook on a regular basis equals either having an infinite supply of recipes on hand, sticking to trusted staples, or eating the same thing over and over again. If you don’t belong to the former group, chances are, you might have to look up some recipes at some point, as many people do.

Out of those people, the majority turn to family recipes when they are in need of cooking inspo, Statista reports. The second source on the list is, unsurprisingly, food-related websites and apps, since, like most things, gastronomy, too, has enmeshed itself in the online world.

Discussing what he draws inspiration from for his cooking-related endeavors and content, the author of the cookbook Anything's Pastable said that he follows his gut; quite literally. “I focus on whatever I'm truly passionate and excited about that day,” Dan said.

“I don't chase trends. In fact, I'm sort of allergic to doing whatever everyone else is doing. When I was a kid, my parents got me piano lessons and by the third lesson I was writing my own songs. I'm sure they were not good songs, but that's my personality.”

A study of 2,000 adults found that nowadays, nearly seven-in-ten of them look for cooking inspiration online rather than in traditional recipe books. The main online sources for such inspo seem to be the good old Facebook and YouTube, followed by Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

Said study also found that a third of internet users feel more confident with their skills in the kitchen, thanks to the technology that is available nowadays.

“I think it traces back to food TV, which goes back to people like Julia Child but really took off with the rise of Food Network in the ‘90s,” Dan told Bored Panda. “Chefs did not used to be famous people. It wasn't considered a glamorous job. Food TV changed that, it got people more interested in restaurants and cooking. Then social media came along and it was like gasoline on the fire. But people have always been interested in food content, because we all have to eat.”

According to the aforementioned survey, not everyone cooks simply because they have to. More than four-in-ten respondents said they dance around pots and pans because they find it rewarding; roughly the same number of people do it because they enjoy trying something new.

Other factors motivating people to try their hand at cooking are the need to pass time or relax, as well as the need for a challenge. (For those looking for a challenge, try making a gingerbread house that looks like something you see on a Pinterest board rather than the house of the evil witch from a fairytale; or give making souffle or macarons a go, and see if it doesn’t make you want to scream and cry.)

It goes without saying that home-cooked healthy meals can have a positive effect on one’s physical health. Research found that a greater amount of time spent on preparing food was linked to indicators of a better diet, entailing more frequently consumed vegetables, salads, fruits, and fruit juices.

The study also revealed that spending roughly an hour a day preparing food was associated with significantly less money spent on eating out and less fast food consumed, which can help not only one’s body but their wallet, too. (Eating healthy can reportedly even boost people’s looks, too.)

In addition to the benefits related to one’s physical health and their wallet, cooking at home is reportedly linked to improved mental health, too. According to BetterHelp, it promotes mindfulness and helps to relieve stress, as people are present and concentrated on the task at hand. It also enhances their self-esteem and creativity, in addition to supporting self-care, and often, providing opportunities for socialization, too, as many would agree that food is meant to be shared.

According to Dan Pashman, while it’s important to try to eat healthy, one shouldn’t be too strict about it. “I think you have to find balance. Of course it's important to try to be healthy, but life is short and you should enjoy the pleasures of being alive!

“I follow two mantras in eating. One comes from the food writer Michael Pollan, whose advice on healthy eating is: Eat food (meaning real food, not junk). Mostly plants. Not too much. My second mantra is ‘All things in moderation, including moderation’.”

We also discussed the aspect of visuals versus taste, and Dan pointed out that a lot of the eating experience is about expectations. “If something looks incredibly delicious, your mouth will start watering before you even taste it. It primes your appetite. That being said, the focus on appearances can end up emphasizing style over substance.

“On social media I think sometimes people share recipes solely because they look amazing, without really testing the recipes thoroughly or considering whether the world really needs another recipe for chocolate chip cookies or whatever. The visual is important but if the flavor isn't there, or if it's an incredible visual with a poorly written recipe, then the mouth-watering look of the food ends up being an empty promise.”

The pictures on this list look mouthwatering, to say the least. As for the flavor, one would have to roll up their sleeves and give making them a go themselves if they want to see how good they actually taste. Consider this a gentle nudge to try your hand at cooking, as who knows, you might just like it.