Today is Valentine’s Day, a day focused on love and chocolate. And perhaps sappy greeting cards. I love love, and I also love chocolate, but I want to focus on something a bit different today.
You might be planning to make a special meal tonight, as I am, and you might have some ideas on some healthy vegan recipes you can make that leave you feeling light and happy. You might be spending the evening with a special someone, a pet or a good movie.
Whatever your plans are, where they intersect with food is where you can try an experiment. Now, this idea might be pretty out there for some of you, and that’s okay.
For me, and for a lot of my holistic nutrition peers and mentors, the consciousness and energy of cooking and eating is a important part of nutrition and a healthy eating plan.
I realize, though, that if you don’t identify with this level, you may soon think I’m crazy. All I ask is that you consider these thoughts and keep your mind open.
You know how food always tastes better when someone else makes it for you? It could be from the energy they put into making the food for you. If you’ve seen the movie Como Agua para Chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate), you might understand what I’m getting at.
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In this movie, a young girl is forbidden from marrying the man she loves because her mother wants her to stay home and take care of her. One of this girl’s favorite jobs is cooking, and since she can’t live out her passion with this man she puts her passion into her cooking. This passion results in the most amazing food, and passes the passion on to the people who eat it.
The particular results in the movie are kind of funny, but the basic premise comes up in various philosophies and religions. If you rush through making a meal, the food might not fully nourish you or your family. If you take time to savor the cooking process and the enjoyment of eating, you may absorb more nutrition from the food. This can be partially from ensuring proper cooking and chewing takes place, but all the ways that you focus consciousness on your food helps.
And it’s not just about time – you’ve all heard the “I’ve slaved over a hot stove all day” excuse for why people should appreciate a meal. The key is that word “slaved” – it doesn’t imply that positive energy was put into the meal, does it?
Now, I’m not saying that in your busy life you have to put an immense amount of time and positive energy into cooking or meal planning. I often throw a meal together quickly when I’m rushed or just plain starving. What I’m saying is that it might make for a different idea of nourishment, and could totally change a meal with the same basic components.
So the experiment for you to try is to cook your Valentine’s meal – no matter what food it is – with enjoyment and love. Even if you’re ordering a pizza, try ordering it with full commitment to enjoying it – leave any guilt behind. See if it makes a difference to the taste, to your feelings during and after the meal, and if you’re eating with someone, what their reaction is.
Do you think this makes a difference? Or do you think I’m nuts? 😉
