My Relationship to Food

Last week I realized that some of my CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) vegetables had come to the end of their life before I could use them all. It was a sad day when I had to throw out some things that I fully intended to eat and didn’t. No excuses. I just had not made time to prepare all my veggies. Even if I couldn’t eat all of them in a week, I certainly could have thrown together a pot of soup and frozen it.
Physician, heal thyself! I’ve kind of lost touch with my food and my kitchen lately. If I don’t spend enough time preparing the food I eat and keeping my refrigerator and cabinets cleared of anything unusable, I don’t eat as well as I would otherwise.
So, I spent some quality time thoroughly cleaning out the frig and getting back to square one with what was there and could be used this week. The feeling of accomplishment and completion after that kind of task is one I relish. It took less than a half hour and the return on that investment of time was huge!
The concept of Primary Food™ is that career, spirituality, physical activity and relationship(s) are primary to the nourishment of our whole being, and what we put into our mouth is secondary. When I began thinking about the relationship part of Primary Food and my relationship to food itself, it was kind of an a-ha moment for me.
During the cooler months of the year I spend much more time preparing food. It makes me feel warm and cozy to have the stove and oven going and just spend time in the kitchen. The more time we spend with anyone or anything, the closer the relationship. Therefore, the more quality time I spend with my food, the better my relationship is to it.
This quality time has gone begging lately and I feel it. Just grazing on whatever is handy, even if it is healthful, doesn’t satisfy the need for really nourishing myself with food that is lovingly prepared and eaten mindfully.
Of course, one could go totally overboard with this theory. Like everything else, there has to be a balance. Hanging out in the kitchen all day, cooking and eating, would soon lead to an unhealthy relationship to food. The challenge is always balance! But when we find it, it’s so satisfying!
As I study dietary theories I am struck by how amazing Joshua Rosenthal’s idea of Primary Food™ really is. As I visit with clients, this is an area that I focus on with individuals who may be struggling with their relationship to food. I know how much this concept is benefitting me and so I am eager to share it with others.
This week, invest 30 minutes of your precious time in yourself by connecting with your food. See what’s really in your refrigerator, toss unusable items, and create something delicious with what is remaining. If you want to play that game where you tell someone the ingredients you have and they tell you what to do with them, shoot me an email! I’ll play!
Many Healthful Returns, Kay