Anna @ The Crunchy Kitchen: Inspiring Family and Child Healthy Living and Nutrition

Is it really all about the food?

Hello, Zweber Farm Readers!

Last article we touched on the overcomplications of what health is and means. To recap, it isn’t solely diet and exercise, but, instead, it’s empowering to know that health is whatever it means to you. It’s not rigid or a set of rules set by someone else. It’s by you based on how you feel both physically and emotionally. 

This month we will reflect on American cultural beliefs around the consumption of our food. Billions of dollars and time is spent on marketing 100’s of different and specific diets that will make us healthy. Today we will look past these confusing numbers of diets and focus instead on How we eat rather than What we eat.

We could eat a cheeseburger from a fast food joint while driving our kids to their activity or we could eat a cheeseburger that was cooked by us on our grill while enjoying our favorite beverage to then be eaten surrounded by family. This second scenario allows time and space for a moment of grace and several moments of connection through conversation and eye contact. There are health benefits from the human connection, thankfulness through grace as well as eating our food slower in the moment, supporting our digestion and gratitude for the food being consumed.

One intention I have for myself is to slow down the pace in which I consume my meal. I am practicing to plan ahead and set time for a meal so I feel less rushed. I, also, often take bites of food while standing, walking out the door and while driving. As part of slowing down, I am practicing to eat more bites and meals at my table. As with any new intention, some days and moments and meals are easier than others.

How we eat has everything to do with what is outside the conventional idea of healthy food. It’s not the calories or nutrition facts.  It’s the atmosphere, our thoughts, the pace, chewing, savoring, mindfulness, awareness of the food going into our mouth, finishing our bite before prepping another on our fork, the taste, the conversation happening at the table, the delicious sip of wine that goes along with the meal… It’s the noticing, the reflection and presence in that moment. It includes all of our senses. It’s so much more than the food. It’s an experience in itself.

Have you considered that? That meal-time is an experience. That it is OK to plan around meal times rather than sneak a quick bite as we run around and that in doing so we can get more from it than satisfying our hunger? Feed your senses. 

What is one thing you’d like to change about how you eat? Click here to comment on Instagram!

First let the awareness set in and then allow and empower yourself to consider it a continual practice.

Cheers to you!