Perfectionism in the Kitchen

Is there too much pressure around making your dishes perfect? As social media sees more and more picture-perfect food with the likes of foodie influencers, it’s easy to feel the heat in the kitchen. From carefully curated recipes plated with the flair of a Michelin-star chef, to high-protein meal prep, we are inundated with advice, inspiration, and expectations about what food we should be buying, cooking, and eating. But while some of these trends encourage many healthy habits, some may leave us feeling too much pressure to be perfect in the kitchen.

For many, cooking can be a form of self-care and self-expression – a way to unwind from a day of studying by getting creative. For others, food is about bringing people together – a hearty Sunday roast with flatmates or fajitas for date night. And for some, eating is little more than a biological requirement – whether it’s chicken and rice after a gym session or a bowl of porridge to get you through your 9am.

As the saying goes, ‘what works for one, may not work for another’ – there is no universal recipe for perfection. So, it’s no wonder students are left wondering why their pesto pasta doesn’t shine in the same way as the dishes they see on their Instagram Explore Page, or why the latest discount notification from Deliveroo is more enticing than the painstakingly prepped four-day-old meal in the fridge that every TikTok influencer says tastes better than pizza.

The NHS suggests a balanced diet with healthy portions of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, alongside your five-a-day. Why complicate it any further with trends that favour aesthetics over taste, or pressure over enjoyment? Social media serves up a feast of unrealistic standards, where ‘budget-friendly’ meals cost you a lot of dough , and ‘easy’ recipes leave you in a pickle, but you don’t have to be buy flashy superfoods or expensive garnishes, and you don’t need to spend your Sundays stirring up a week’s worth of lunches, just because that’s what another influencer says is best.

So, next time you save that ‘easy’ recipe on Instagram or TikTok, remember that it’s not the end of the world if you substitute an ingredient or set off the smoke alarm. There’s nothing wrong in taking a few shortcuts or making a few changes to create something tasty, nourishing, and to your taste.

The art of food isn’t just about an aesthetically pleasing plate – it’s about the catch ups in the library over last night’s pasta and laughter with friends as you take the burnt cookies out of the oven. Focus on what’s on your own plate and embrace the imperfections that make every bite yours.