Okay, so how do we begin to see food as something special and unique in a land that is full of dollar menus, processed snack foods and fast food advertisements that encourage us to eat "the fourth meal" at midnight.
Well, we can start by looking at how food or lack thereof, affects the rest of the world. Facts according to Stopthehunger.com
- 1,025,716,012 are undernourished right now
- 17, 264 people will die of hunger today
- 5,205,299 will die of hunger this year.
- Money spent on obesity related issues in the US $153, 588, 453
- Spending on weight loss programs in the US $ 66, 783, 234
- Foods purchased and tossed in the US $71, 912, 345
The reality is we, Americans, have a very cocky attitude towards food. Not to burst anyone's bubble but it could simply take one environmental catastrophe (say a meteor or earthquake) that would leave us like the rest of the world real quick. Just cause we have a ton of food at our fingertips doesn't mean we shouldn't be extremely grateful that we get to eat unlike many people around the world.
What I'm really saying is appreciate you are blessed enough to be able to feed yourself and your family. I'm not saying graze all day, snack when stressed or obsess about food all day. True gratitude would put food in it's proper place. Food is meant to nourish our bodies and provide the antioxidants, fiber, protein, nutrients, and minerals that are necessary to maintain a healthy body. Real foods are designed to cause your body to thrive when you consume them and sadly deteriorate when you don't.
Okay so my point so far, in case you're wondering, is that somehow we've gotten way out of whack in our relationship with food. First we need to be grateful we get to eat, Secondly we need to eat foods that nourish our bodies and then finally we need to let meals facilitate a deepening of our closest relationships. Eating a meal with another person creates intimacy. Strangers just don't sit down with each other to eat meals unless they're particularly friendly people. Meal time is the best way to grow in our relationships with family and friends.
I realize everyone is super busy and most families don't eat together but that is not wise. I'm not saying slow down but I am saying work smarter not harder. Taking the time to eat meals with your family will actually bring more productivity in your lives. Whoever you eat with every day are the people you are truly building a relationship with. If that's not your family and close friends then maybe it's time to make some adjustments.
If your kids are eating meals with only their peers then it's likely their peers are the ones with the most influence in their lives. Think about it, what if simply eating dinner as a family could reduce the divorce rate, keep young people out of destructive situations and increase the quality of your life.
If you're single try not eating meals alone unless of course all your friends sabotage your health goals. When you eat with others you talk more, eat less and probably don't gorge yourself quite like you would when you're alone. As much as possible try to and sit down, appreciate your meals, and enjoy the company.
So here's 7 thoughts on making meals sacred:
1. Be grateful before you eat. Pray if you pray or appreciate the privilege that many don't have around the world to sit down and eat dinner.
2 Eat like Europeans. They prepare small portions, eat slow communal meals. They avoid snacks and don't eat seconds. (from Michael Pollan's "Food Rules: An Eater's Manual").
3. Don't eat in your car, if at all possible.
4. Prepare food, cook and clean up afterwards: guarantees you won't be eating all the time (too much work). Choose real food that has a shelf life. This food should be as colorful as possible. There are a ton of antioxidants in vegetables that give those beautiful colors to food. These antioxidants also keep and maintain the body's heath.
5. Go into "Take Off" mode: Seats in the upright position, tray tables back and turn off all electronic devices during the meal. Shut off everything but the pleasant meal before you and the wonderful people you are eating with. Look into people's eyes and find out what's going on with them. A true connection over a meal can make all the difference in the health of a relationship
6. Savor and enjoy the meal. Your gut will thank you and this will keep you from over eating. It takes time for your brain to tell your stomach you're full or vice versa
7. Do all this religiously. Making meals a priority consistently will produce health in every sphere of life.
I realize everyone is super busy and most families don't eat together but that is not wise. I'm not saying slow down but I am saying work smarter not harder. Taking the time to eat meals with your family will actually bring more productivity in your lives. Whoever you eat with every day are the people you are truly building a relationship with. If that's not your family and close friends then maybe it's time to make some adjustments.
If your kids are eating meals with only their peers then it's likely their peers are the ones with the most influence in their lives. Think about it, what if simply eating dinner as a family could reduce the divorce rate, keep young people out of destructive situations and increase the quality of your life.
If you're single try not eating meals alone unless of course all your friends sabotage your health goals. When you eat with others you talk more, eat less and probably don't gorge yourself quite like you would when you're alone. As much as possible try to and sit down, appreciate your meals, and enjoy the company.
So here's 7 thoughts on making meals sacred:
1. Be grateful before you eat. Pray if you pray or appreciate the privilege that many don't have around the world to sit down and eat dinner.
2 Eat like Europeans. They prepare small portions, eat slow communal meals. They avoid snacks and don't eat seconds. (from Michael Pollan's "Food Rules: An Eater's Manual").
3. Don't eat in your car, if at all possible.
4. Prepare food, cook and clean up afterwards: guarantees you won't be eating all the time (too much work). Choose real food that has a shelf life. This food should be as colorful as possible. There are a ton of antioxidants in vegetables that give those beautiful colors to food. These antioxidants also keep and maintain the body's heath.
5. Go into "Take Off" mode: Seats in the upright position, tray tables back and turn off all electronic devices during the meal. Shut off everything but the pleasant meal before you and the wonderful people you are eating with. Look into people's eyes and find out what's going on with them. A true connection over a meal can make all the difference in the health of a relationship
6. Savor and enjoy the meal. Your gut will thank you and this will keep you from over eating. It takes time for your brain to tell your stomach you're full or vice versa
7. Do all this religiously. Making meals a priority consistently will produce health in every sphere of life.
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