Creating a peaceful setting around food preparation and food
consumption is a vital component of the nutrition process and your
wellness. Even the best whole foods will fail to nourish your body fully
when you’re stressed, upset or eat on the run. While those
circumstances may be unavoidable at times, creating greater
consciousness around how we eat will contribute enormously to digestion,
nutrient absorption and overall well-being.
A few things to consider adding to your eating habits:
1. Put love into your food.
Food is energy. It provides us with energy to fuel our body, and it is
influenced by the energetic vibe surrounding it. The thoughts and
feeling we’re experiencing while preparing food go into the food. If we are feeling love, appreciation and joy, those things infuse our food.
Ever notice how delicious food prepared by someone who loves you is?
It’s delicious because it’s made with lots of love. If we're feeling
frustrated, angry, or unhappy, that will infuse our food instead.
Prepare your food when you’re in a good mood and feeling positive.
2. Feed your soul.
Commune with your food and make preparing it a celebration. Play
music while you’re in the kitchen. Put something you love near you in
the kitchen, such as fresh flowers. I have a collection of aprons I
enjoy wearing, especially when I’m working with my favorite superfood,
chocolate. Set the table in a way that is pleasing to you. Use your
favorite dishes and glasses, light a candle or arrange some flowers on
the table, use a pretty cloth napkin, eat al fresco when the weather
permits. Do the things that will make you feel good, grateful and
abundant.
3. Think about who you’re sharing mealtime with.
Your digestion is hugely impacted by how you feel during and after
you’ve eaten. Our emotions influence our digestive function as much as
any system in the body, so getting into a peaceful, relaxed state is
important before you begin eating. Whenever possible, surround yourself
with love and positivity while you’re eating.
4. Give thanks.
Taking a few moments to breathe deeply informs the body that it’s OK to
relax. When this is done before a meal it prepares you to receive
nourishment and begin the digestive process. When we take time to say
grace or give thanks
before meals, we turn on our parasympathetic nervous system; we’re
switching gears chemically and physiologically. Giving thanks not only
prepares us for digestion, but it also reminds us of our many blessings
and of the celebration that living is.
5. Give yourself time.
Take the time to
really enjoy your food. Savor each bite, really taste the flavors,
appreciate the beautiful, deep colors and the interesting textures of
your food. Take the time to fully experience it, to thoroughly chew your
food and to feel it nourishing your body. It’s not just about eating;
it’s about nourishing your body, mind and spirit.
source:mindbodygreen