Cookbooks to Feed the Soul

New releases focus on the mental health and community benefits of cooking and baking

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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A new wave of cookbooks is exploring how preparing and sharing meals can support mental well-being and create moments of connection. From a San Francisco baker hosting global cake picnics to a singer-songwriter sharing her recovery journey through food, these books aim to nourish both body and spirit.

Why it matters

In an era of rising mental health challenges, these cookbooks tap into a growing interest in using food and cooking as a form of self-care and community building. By highlighting the emotional and social aspects of food preparation and sharing, the books offer readers practical ways to find joy, healing, and connection through the kitchen.

The details

The new cookbooks include "Cake Picnic" by Elisa Sunga, an amateur baker who launched a global movement of friends gathering to share whole cakes in parks; "Cooking from Scratch" by Toya Boudy, which features family recipes and natural remedies inspired by a 19th-century Black cookbook author; "One Plate at a Time" by Demi Lovato, where the singer shares her journey of finding freedom with food after struggles with eating disorders; "Pasta Therapy" by Isabella Barbato, which explores the emotional and mindful benefits of pasta making; and "Will This Make You Happy" by Tanya Bush, a pastry chef who chronicles her first year of baking.

  • Cake Picnic was launched by Elisa Sunga in San Francisco in 2024.
  • Cooking from Scratch by Toya Boudy will be published in June 2026.
  • One Plate at a Time by Demi Lovato will be published in March 2026.
  • Pasta Therapy by Isabella Barbato will be published in June 2026.
  • Will This Make You Happy by Tanya Bush will be published in March 2026.

The players

Elisa Sunga

An amateur baker and UX program manager at Google who launched the Cake Picnic event in San Francisco in 2024, which has since spread globally.

Toya Boudy

The author of "Cooking from Scratch," a cookbook inspired by the 19th-century "A Domestic Cook Book" written by a Black woman.

Demi Lovato

A singer, songwriter, and actor who wrote "One Plate at a Time" as part of her recovery from anorexia and bulimia.

Isabella Barbato

A self-taught cook and food writer who discovered the healing power of pasta making and launched "pasta therapy" workshops.

Tanya Bush

A pastry chef and Cake Zine founder who chronicles her first year of baking in "Will This Make You Happy."

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What they’re saying

“Learning how to feed myself has saved my life.”

— Demi Lovato (Flatiron)

“If it fails, make something else.”

— Tanya Bush, pastry chef and Cake Zine founder (Chronicle)

The takeaway

These new cookbooks highlight how the act of cooking and sharing food can nourish both physical and mental health, offering readers practical ways to find joy, healing, and community through the kitchen.