book club

Flour, Sugar, and Self-Care: The Therapeutic Power of Baking

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School is out and summer has officially started with traveling, sports and cookouts. If you were asked what your signature dish is, what would you say? Personally, mine would be buffalo chicken dip, a classic. I am not much for baking, but I have started trying new things in the kitchen. Baking is an activity that channels creative therapy, and studies show that engaging in art therapy can impact stress levels. One of my best friends, Keala, has recently been experimenting with sourdough by making bagels, loaves, and other baked goods. She is constantly telling me how excited she is to try new things and how much more creativity she has while baking (not to mention it tastes great!). Challenging our creative side gives us a sense of accomplishment that will allow us to continue trying a new hobby. Baking also stimulates the senses, boosts self-confidence and create or strengthen relationships (Northern Healthcare, 2025).

If baking is something you do regularly, have you ever considered it a mindful practice? The step-by-step action of following a recipe can be a mindful practice as well as the physical act of kneading bread. The repetitive nature provides a calming effect by doing things like kneading dough. Today culinary arts programs have been created focusing on therapy approaches with benefits like time-management, brain development through using the senses, and increased awareness about health and nutrition. The art of cooking, sharing recipes, and relationship strength all foster a sense of community. Food holds a strong tradition in many cultures whether it is during holidays or weekly. It can be a time to gather, talk, and spend time with loved ones. On days like today, when the weather is cold and rainy, staying inside and baking can serve as a great activity to pass the time. Reading is another way we care for our mental health as it provides an outlet to discover new worlds and relaxation. This summer, the Buckeye Bookworms Book Club is hosting a One Night Only Event featuring the book The Baking Games by Rachel Hanna. The meeting date is July 24 from 6-7:30 (EST), If you want to sign up go to https://go.osu.edu/fcsbookclub and register!

Written by: Alexus Masterson, Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences, Muskingum County.

Reviewed by: Lisa Barlage, Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ross County.

Stressed – Why Not Join a Book Club?

adults in book club

I regularly hear friends, family, coworkers, or just someone at the hair salon say that they are stressed, tired, overwhelmed, and DONE. For some, their anxiety is making it hard to work or they feel ill, others are just tired and not inspired. I’m going to suggest what for some might be a new coping strategy – join a book club. A couple of you probably just said – WHAT? My coworkers, who write for this blog, do a great job of sharing methods to identify stressors and navigate them – so I’m going to link you to their information and then offer a little more about the research that supports joining a book club as a possible stress relief tool.

Possible benefits of being a book club member:

  • Reading books actually reduces stress. Reading just 10 minutes can be more effective than taking a walk or listening to music. And – belonging to the book club may force you to read a little more of the book.
  • Book clubs promote empathy, understanding, and build healthy relationships.
  • Completing books may give you a sense of accomplishment.
  • Reading as part of a club may encourage you to connect with diverse perspectives and read different genres.

If you are now considering giving a book club a try, remember there are several options for meetings now, and most of them don’t include wine. Check out these book club alternatives:

  • Join the local library, coffee shop, or bookstore book club. Most have several options based on time of day and genre preference.
  • Ask your friends and family if anyone already belongs to a club or if they would want to form one. I know several families that have their own club now – aunts, sisters, nieces, and nephews all read a book each month and then get online or meet in-person to talk about it.
  • Look for virtual book clubs – we have one through Ohio State University Extension that talks about Family and Consumer Science topics and reads books that have those topics in them. In the last year we read and discussed “Malibu Rising”, “The Kitchen Front”, “Up to No Gouda”, and are currently reading the award-winning book “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store”. If you want join, sign up at go.osu.edu/fcsbookclub. We meet evenings, every other week.
  • See if your favorite author has a book club. I have noticed that several of my favorites are now doing Facebook book clubs, where you are encouraged to read a book and then they have a live online meeting time.
  • Check out the celebrity book clubs – some just recommend books, but others have online forums, and most have chat features so you can discuss favorites.
  • Don’t forget to see if your university has a book club. Many alumni associations host book clubs or reading challenges for staff as well as alumni. You can get to the Ohio State University Alumni Book Club or many others from their websites.

I look forward to hear if joining a book club may work as a stress relief method for some of you. Message us below to let us know your successes or challenges.

Writer: Lisa Barlage, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County

Reviewer: Jessica Lowe, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Pickaway County

Sources:

Lee, V. G., & Madden, M. E. (n.d.). The power of life histories: Moving readers to greater acts of empathy through literature and memoir. Forum on Public Policy. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1126538.pdf

MacDonald, B. (2022, November 29). The World of Online Book Clubs. LillyPad.ai. https://blog.lillypad.ai/the-importance-of-book-clubs-online/

Vallie, S. (2022, November 2). Health Benefits of Reading Books. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-reading-books

Talking About Tough Topics, Respectfully

two people side by side reading books

This year, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to join over 100 of my colleagues in reading and discussing the book Why are all the Black kids sitting together in the cafeteria? by Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum. Together, we chose to focus on racial literacy through a yearlong book club and respectful dialogue series.

According to the Ohio State University Office of Diversity and Inclusion, respectful dialogue is “engagement in honest, thoughtful and reflexive conversation with the goal of understanding one another.” When engaging in respectful dialogue, you do not have to agree with or adopt the perspectives of all others. Instead, you listen to other perspectives with curiosity and the goal of learning.

When engaging in a respectful dialogue, it is helpful for all participants to establish and agree to common expectations for the conversation. Some of the expectations our book club group adopted include:

  • Speak from your own experience only. No one is a spokesperson for an entire group.
  • Assume positive intention, but own your impact.
  • If you are upset or offended, say so, and say why.
  • No shame or blame – be gracious and remember we are all learning.
  • Listen to understand, not to respond.
  • Challenge by choice. No one should ever feel pressured to interact or engage.
  • Try leaning into the discomfort that these conversations can sometimes evoke.
  • Be empathetic and compassionate – toward others AND yourself.
  • Be respectful, even if you disagree with something.
  • Remember it’s okay to disagree, but don’t make it personal. Stick to the issue. No name-calling or put-downs.

If you’re interested in participating in a respectful dialogue on a tough topic but don’t know where to start, reach out to your local library to see if they have any upcoming events you could join. For example, the Columbus Metropolitan Library joined eight other libraries in central Ohio for an 11-week One Book, One Community event in November 2020 – January 2021. In 2021, they hosted monthly virtual panel discussions on race and social justice, each one centering on a different book, movie, article, or music selection. Many of these selections and other titles that your local library may be able to recommend come with discussion guides you can use to host a respectful dialogue of your own with friends, family members, or co-workers.

On the topic of racial literacy, the American Library Association has a list of recommended anti-racism titles for all ages, and both Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Common Sense Media offer advice for parents on talking about racism with children. As the parent to a toddler, one thing I learned from my experience reading this particular book and participating in this book club is the importance of starting conversations about tough topics early in life.

Written by: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension Franklin County.

Reviewed by: Laura Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Warren County.

Sources:

American Library Association (2020). Reading for change: Booklist recommended antiracism titles for all ages. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/reading-change-booklist-recommends-antiracism-titles-ages

Common Sense Media (2020). How to talk with kids about racism and racial violence. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/how-to-talk-with-kids-about-racism-and-racial-violence

Nationwide Children’s (2020). How to talk to your kids about racism. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2020/06/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-racism

The Ohio State University Office of Diversity and Inclusion. (n.d.) Respectful Dialogue Toolkit. https://odi.osu.edu/respectful-dialogue-toolkit