Cooking looks simple, but it asks a lot of the brain. You have to plan, shop, prioritize, keep track of time, and watch several things at once. The New York Times recently looked at how adults with ADHD handle these demands. It also covered the creative workarounds many of them have built.
The article follows Linda Yi, who was diagnosed in her mid-20s. After her diagnosis, she understood which parts of her brain needed support. She began recording recipes in her own visual way instead of relying on memory. Her drawings grew into Panda Cub Diner, an online cooking club focused on Sichuan dishes.
The piece also explains the role of executive function, the set of mental skills that help us prioritize, sustain attention, and plan. Our own Dr. Marcy Caldwell is quoted describing it as “the conductor of your brain’s orchestra.” She notes that cooking is one of the most complex activities for executive function. It often happens at the end of the day, when energy is low and medication may be wearing off.
