Lori and I received a sweet comment from a reader (hey Jewel) about how we are helping her respect her food.
Learning to love and respect my food was such an important part of my health journey (as well as Lori’s). Appreciating food also played a huge role in over coming our eating disorders.
Ever since facing my current battle with candida and weak adrenals (it has been a week now), it has forced me to really examine my food.
But not in a bad way!
Instead, makes me “see” food differently, like, how can food nourish me now with my current health journey…
This bowl of nourishment is: chia seeds, water, hemp protein powder, stevia, vanilla and cinnamon.
So now when I eat, I truly try to appreciate every bite. Not every meal is picture worthy, but I do catch myself enjoying the pure raw flavors of the food I am eating no matter what it may look like.
A book I read a few years ago talked about this subject, it was called “If the Buddha came to dinner.” The book was about making every meal special.
Light candles. Use your best china. Buy high quality ingredients.
Respect your food and it will respect you back.
Some of my favorite quotes from the book:
- It takes only one instance of consciously feeding yourself to begin the incredible journey of transformational nourishment.
- Reflect on what you learned from you own experience and continue to eat the foods that fuel YOU the best.
- Balance isn’t a final destination but an ongoing practice that simply is part of the journey of our lives.
Twins Question: What is your favorite way to make a meal special? Have any other books about slowing down and respecting your food? Do you find you feel different when you really take the time to enjoy your meal?
till next time,
Michelle
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
EXCELLENT message in this post. I make a meal special by simply enjoying it with my favorite people/loved ones.
Veggiegirl – a great way to enjoy a meal is with people we love
Hi Michelle – I keep meaning to send you an email or leave a longer comment but things have been hectic. I am so sorry about the candida and the adrenal fatigue – I found out in December 2009 I had adrenal deficiencies, and it has been a long journey since, but worth it. I think the b est thing it did for me was give up on the notion of intense exercise – I had never been able to sustain it (it exhausted me) but I could not let go that I should be able to do it. Instead I switched to more walking and yoga and focused on just that for 6 months and it really helped, as well as diet and supplements of course. Even though I did not have any candida issues, I still went on a very low-sugar/no caffeine regimen for the adrenal fatigue, and that helped too. Please feel free to email me anytime if you have any questions. ALl the best. Valerie.
Valerie – no worries, I appreciate you taking the time to comment and share this with me. Yes I have been working on reducing my caffeine intake and reducing the intensity of my workouts. Also getting to bed earlier. It all seems to be helping. One day at a time
My most favorite way to eat a meal is with my husband at the table. Sometimes I light a candle if I remember. But adding in some wine and long conversations makes it the best and most enjoyable.
Heather that sounds perfect!!
Great post! I try to make all of our meals special. I hate eating quickly too, so I like to make sure I take time to chew everything. I also like texture, so eating foods with a variety of textures makes them extra special for me.
Sarena we like different textures too
Great post! I think it’s very important to appreciate our food and to also value the way our food is prepared and brought to us. It’s a huge reason why I don’t eat meat, I enjoy making meals for people (meat eaters alike) that really enjoy a healthy vegetarian dish.
When it’s warm, I go outside and sit under the birch tree in my backyard. It’s my own personal sacred space. So eating there makes eating sacred. It’s also wonderful to hear birds and nature while eating… very calming and good for the gut!
Fartygirl that sounds great, I would love that if I had a place like that near me…umm I better get looking
LOL
hmmm…i’m noticing that some of my comments have been disappearing…so weird.
i just wanted you to know that this recipe is out of this world, and i am so excited to try it.
thank you.
I do feel sooo much better when I take time to savor my food and meals rather than rush-eating and wolfing them down. I love this reminder
I love your Buddah concepts on food. I too struggled in the past with disordered eating, hospitalized throughout my teens and early 20′s. Now, my whole outlook on food is different. I think you should take as much care preparing your meal and you do eating it. Not something I can say I always do, being busy. But definitely a goal I strive for.
Same here Laury, a goal we strive for as well.
I loved this post. I totally agree that it’s so crucial that we respect and cherish the food that nourishes us. I like making my meals special by sharing it with good company. It’s actually not so much about the food, it’s really about being to share it with people you love
So true Eden!!!
What a lovely post and message! I think it’s such a great ideal to make mealtimes sacred space, not be reading or doing anything else while eating, respecting and savoring the food–and respecting my own desires to spend time preparing food.
Especially when I was deeply anorexic, I used to feel so ashamed of eating, even if no one could see me, and now I see that it is such a celebration of beauty and abundance. Most of the time I see that!
How is your yeast odyssey going? Are you taking herbs or yeast-killing medications, or just doing diet? How’s your energy? I’m accepting that my energy is less while I’m taking the ketoconazole and herbs, and because of my adrenal problems, I’m ok with doing somewhat less exercise until the main cleansing is over
love
Ela
Ela we are doing good, energy comes and goes still. We are taking a few medications to fight off the yeast at the moment. So far hanging in there
PS– did you see your message about the One Lovely Blog award?
yes saw it! THANKS!!!!! xoxoxo
I love the fact that I go against the grain to make my food nourishing. Most of my college peers are living off junk food, claiming that “it’s the only time in their life that they can do it” but I take pride in honoring my body now because i cherish my future AND my health now
Emma that is a great attitude! And we feel the same way
HUGS
So true on respecting food, I’ve always thought healthy eaters have an additional acquired tasting sense with food finding pleasure in foods that are more nourishing.
For me, I try to eat slower and appreciate whole ingredients more.
Same here Christine!
Oh I love this! My way of enjoying a meal is eating slowly and eating at a set table with those I love.
Pretty or not, if it’s healthy, it’s beautiful.
Yes it sure does feel different taking time to enjoy the food. That is why I think restaurants are so popular. They force us to relax and focus on the food and good company.
Aww how sweet! i some how missed this post but past few days ive been slowing down see what i eat smell it savor it and thank it for doing what it is for nurish me my mind my body. my children are now doing the same i think what a gift to start so fresh in life
I kept my raw cacao, but coffee and tea were out – I figured it was a fair trade off. It is definitely a one day at a time process. In my case, my doctor things I may have had lifelong adrenal deficiency (based on certain things about my health history) so it has been a long process, but I know others who have bounced back in a shorter amount of time than I have.
Valerie it sounds like we are similar I have a feeling I have had this problem for a long time but never really knew about it. I think we will be healed soon