Rarely are things essential in Tears of the Kingdom on account of its modular design, so while I would definitely recommend you take the time to cook a little bit throughout your playthrough, it is by no means a deal breaker. You'll be able to get by buying health and stamina potions from shops, and even if you can't be bothered to cook, there are plenty of food items and potions you can find and eat straight away for a marginal stat increase. Just remember that you could get more out of those items if you cooked them. Also, if you do choose to go this route, be aware that it will very likely burn a hole in your rupee wallet. Potions are expensive, so you're encouraged to search for and modify foods that will have the same effect.