Intimacy With Your Food - Practiced or Forgotten?
Bring to memory the last time you were at a restaurant and ask yourself the following questions:
What kind of atmosphere did you feel?
How were the people you interacted with? Were there conversations or silence?
What was your relationship with the food?
How did you experience the food?
Did you take a moment to ponder where it came from or if it will nourish you?
Maybe you can’t fully answer these questions about your last restaurant experience. There is NO judgment for not remembering - we all can work on our present moment awareness.
In our modern fast-paced world intimacy with food has been lost. We don’t know where our food comes from, who it was grown by or how it was grown. Food used to be grown within the community and there would be seasons of different foods - not like the grocery store where the same things are there every day of the year. This physical proximity to your environment alongside following the rhythms of nature’s seasons aids in connecting you to your food on a deeper level more than thinking of food as a substance.
Eating is an intimate experience. Meals were always special times to gather with family or the community and receive not only food, but also stories, wisdom, laughter, love, cultural rituals, socialization, and appreciation for the work that went into the meal. Modern dinner tables tend to come with distractions - TV/phones - which take you out of the act of eating. Once your mind travels to the TV it fades out your awareness of how the food is feeling in your body. This disconnect develops over time and may lead to health issues, unhealthy weight, and lack of clarity in terms of what fuels you to Thrive!!
Through greater awareness lies the opportunity to cultivate deeper intimacy because you are THAT much more in tune within the Now. The present moment is a great teacher to realize new things about yourself, your food, and those around you. Being aware moment to moment ultimately helps you discern where, how, and with whom you want to spend your time.
When it comes to deciding to go out for a meal with others, I encourage you to first check-in with yourself and be honest about what is feasible and best for you in this moment of your life. Maybe you are really tired and need to get rest, but you agree to go anyway to “be a good friend”. That may result in greater fatigue or lack of energy to carry out the rest of your week. The same goes for if you’re trying to save money: going out adds up, so don’t feel obligated to always say “YES.” (That’s a lesson I’m always working on.)
Take a breath before you respond.
You have permission to think about it.
You are allowed to ask for what you want.
You can say “No.”
By reinstating this awareness (intimacy with oneself) of what is best for our body and mind in the moment, we can unlock hidden superpowers within.
I whole-heartedly believe food gives us the opportunity to grow into our best selves, not only by fueling our bodies, but also our mind, relationships, connection with nature, compassion, trust-muscle, and in so many more internal and external ways.
If this piques your interest, follow that feeling. It’s a “ping” that you’re meant to explore this path. I encourage open-minded curiosity.
Intrigued for more? Email me questions or your observations at lizzieshutt3@gmail.com
OR book a free Clarity Call to explore deeper into how you can start implementing greater awareness into your daily life (on your plate and beyond) ;)
“Live Dirty, Eat Clean & Green”,
Lizzie Shutt
@lizzie_shutt