Stop And Smell The . . .

America. The greatest country in the world. Our freedoms extend beyond those of our allies, and our land is so vast that most foreigners need a passport to experience the same diversity. And yet, we are lacking.

Lauren, a colleague in the birth community recently blogged about how she vowed to not drive through fast food joints, or anywhere, for the rest of the year. She noticed that the sacrifices she was making for convenience outweighed the convenience itself. The food she shoveled down her throat as she drove was initially satisfying, but not enjoyable. Then, late one night, I found myself eating a double cheeseburger from the McDonalds dollar menu because I had skipped dinner and was ravenous. When the burger was gone, dwelling heavily in my stomach, I realized that not only did I sort of want to throw it all back up to clear my system, but that I hadn’t even enjoyed it all that much. Okay, so it was like a gulp of air to me when I first started eating it. But haven’t I enjoyed food before in a way that made me want to close my eyes and really savor it? I was eating out of instinct, and not with intention or thought.

There are parts of America that still grasp this idea. Louisiana is one. There, meals have to earn their worth. Even “poor people food” as Anthony Bourdain calls it, is something to be treasured by all. Like the Po Boy, red beans and rice, jambalaya . . . They may be inexpensive and made with the cast offs and leftovers, but they were prepared with care and intention. So why is it so hard for me to eat like this? I’m a fairly good cook and with a little time and creativity I bet I could prepare meals for myself and I can really savor and enjoy.

In yoga school we discussed the idea of eating with intention. We were given samples of food and asked to close our eyes and chew each 20 times on one side of our mouth, then 20 times on the other. We were supposed to think of the flavor, texture, the experience as a whole. In yoga everything is done with intention. To do something mindlessly would only leave you further from enlightenment and self-awareness. This, in relation to food, only just sunk in. Also, the book French Women Don’t Get Fat spoke about this idea. In France they sit and take time with their food, enjoying it. This goes for many parts of the world, especially the Mediterranean. Because of this they end up shoveling less crap in their mouth. Taking your time when you eat will usually make you eat less. And why not enjoy this aspect of life? A well prepared meal is like art.

So here is challenge #2 for myself and anyone else who would like to join me. I am going to eat at mealtimes or the first sign of hunger (real hunger, not boredom or craving). I am not going to wait until I’m ravenously hungry. And I will seek out food that I will enjoy immensely. With the same fervor that I enjoy a home cooked meal by my grandfather. I will have to be smart about this so that I don’t waste, but spend money on fresh ingredients and use them all. I will try this for one week and then re-evaluate.