Well, I’d say spending 12 hours a day on a computer ISN’T good for you, but for reasons other than the college process. But this is a mom talking here. 
I disagree with your guidance counselor. I don’t feel community service has to apply to only one’s hometown community. Plus, you are visiting family in India, correct? By extension that should be viewed as part of your community/heritage as well. I don’t think community service needs to be defined so narrowly.
Entering cooking competitions as an Indian food expert would be an interesting EC. I agree that your gender doesn’t make it more notable outside of your own family. But it is something that might make you a bit memorable to committee members but at the same time won’t really move you from the reject to the admit pile by itself. If you watch Top Chef, you will see mostly men there including some from other cultures where women might spend more time in the kitchen.
@doschicos I’ll fill out the form anyways. I’ll take pictures to have proof if it’s required.
@CheddarcheeseMN maybe not my gender, but my ethnicity/cuisine?
Thanks!
Shaash, it is community service! Holy cow, kids go on paid trips to help build houses for poor people and put that on their college apps. Are you giving of your time to help others? That’s community service. I do not see how your GC has a problem with that. If you only do it for an hour, maybe not, but if you are going to spend considerable time doing it, by all means list it. List your cooking, list the things you spend time doing outside of school that are enriching, or help others, or are meaningful to you in a constructive way.
You’re correct that cooking is science.
Ratios of spice, water to dal, heat temps and cooking times are all science.
Perhaps you could figure out a way to conduct and write up experiments, or start a cooking as science club at your school.
Other suggestions: start a cooking blog; write a cooking for teens column in your school or local newspaper; submit food stories as a guest to established cooking magazines or blogs; shadow a chef at a local restaurant; create a multi-ethnic food festival at your school that allows students from differing backgrounds to showcase their food traditions
Regardless, have fun.
@hop that’s a great idea! Thanks
@Lindagaf Well I’m only going to be free for a week. My GC also recommends spending at least 30 hours on one thing. I guess if I stay there for the entire school day for 5 days, it could add up. I don’t know if that’s how it will work out though.
How can you take your interest in cooking at make it into a good EC?
Volunteer at a soup kitchen
Volunteer at your house of worship/cultural center cooking
Offer cooking classes for kids at your cultural center
Create a multi-cultural club at your school and have International Food Day
Talk to your culinary arts teacher at your HS and see if you could plan a meal for the cooking class to cook