A love story.

While, evidence suggests eating a healthy diet is beneficial to our overall health and wellbeing, how we buy, prepare, cook and eat this food is also important.

Ancient wisdom states that our current mind set whilst preparing and cooking food can directly affect the vibrational energy of the food. Thus, by being mindful whilst cooking can transform every meal you create into a comforting and healing experience. There are many books and movies based on this very concept that demonstrate the healing power of food, such as “Chocolat’”, “Like Water for Chocolate” and “The Lunch Box”.

In addition, many cultures emphasize the intention and emotion in cooking. For instance, it is customary in Greece to cook and serve food with “agapi” (unconditional love), for great energy and in the Indian sacred Hindu scriptures “Bhagavad Gita” which discusses the current mood or energy of the person cooking also transfers into the energy of the food.

Many people who have experienced and enjoyed their mother, father or guardians cooking for them will declare, that their food had healing and comforting properties to make them feel better. For example, think about that chicken and vegetable soup when you had a cold or flu, or that delicious beef curry when you needed that boost in energy. This act then, that the cook demonstrates to their family and friends, of showing unconditional love, care, attention, intention and silent prayer for their overall health and wellbeing, flows like a positive energy into the food. Therefore, creating a delicious and nutritious meal that nourishes the body and soul and comes from that positive energy which becomes the essential ingredient.

Mindfulness in the kitchen.

My experience: I find cooking in the kitchen to be therapeutic. I find that being in the moment, I am attentive and present, which helps me think about the ingredients I am using, what they taste like, how I am preparing it, what foods complement the ingredients and the texture, and tasting occasionally so that I can adjust the seasoning. By using all my senses I can orchestrate a meal that tastes delicious, is nutritious, smells amazing and is pleasing to the eye. Thus, by consciously thinking about ingredients the colours, the textures, what’s in season, the freshness and tastes, I decide on how to prepare, cook and eat the meal, which becomes a heart-warming ceremony with amazing health benefits.

Creativity in the kitchen.

As mentioned above I spoke about how I use my senses to cook and a create meal, and my inner feelings to decipher what my family and I savour the most. But I never started like this.

When I first got married I did not know how to cook. Yes, I had watched my parents and mother in-law cook meals for the family and I also used to help. But I had never tried to cook for myself. So I bought some simple heart-smart cookbooks and followed recipes to the letter. Danny and I really enjoyed each meal created and we started feeling alot healthier. This helped my confidence grow.

With increased confidence came improvisation. I played with or swapped ingredients especially if I could not source them or if I did not have it at home, creating different flavours, smells and textures. In addition, there were some recipes I did not like and so changed the methods and or tried different ingredients to make it my own. Sensing the bridge between what I felt we needed and connecting it to our environment and surrounds. Therefore, listening to the information my senses conveyed to me as a way that helped me choose foods that healed us. This is a fantastic way to support your overall health and well-being and any nutritional goals you may have.

Heart of the home:

The kitchen is the heart of the home and by making it a lovely space that not only feels good for you, but has the energy in interacting with the process of cooking, is a positive start. Keeping your work surfaces clean, tidy and organised, play your favourite music in the background and let in fresh air and natural light. This helps you feel more connected. In addition, create a rhythm in the kitchen which enables you to create shapes with your meat and vegetables, line up your ingredients in the order you are going to use them in, get your oils and dressing out for drizzling and your salt and pepper shakers out for seasoning. Thus, generating a harmonious flow of energy that helps you notice moment to moment sensations of colour, texture and smells.

Eating together:

Sharing a meal with friends and family has both social and individual benefits. For example, sharing a meal can be good for your mental health. Whether it be through sharing what you got up to throughout the day, relaxing with company and loved ones, bonding with members of the family or just having someone to talk to. Therefore, mealtimes provide a fantastic opportunity for us to set aside a specific time of the day or week to make time to socialise, relax and improve our mental health.

The Psychological benefits:

Routine mealtimes shared with others provide a sense of pattern and regularity in our lives. In addition, they offer a sense of familiarity and containment, and can evoke deep feelings of contentment and security. People need routine and structure and meal times offer people within the home to stand still, to be mindful, to reflect on their day and to listen to and interact with others.

The Social benefits:

Evidence suggests that families who sit around the dining table to share a meal creates good teaching opportunities, enhances family connectedness and has amazing health benefits. Moreover, sitting down for a healthy home cooked meal provides a ritual for connecting with each other.

Good teaching moments for children and adolescents:

By setting the standard whilst children are young, that everyone comes together at dinner time will become part of the daily routine. This will follow throughout their lives as children grow into teenagers and then into adults. It will also continue into their own parenthood.

Additionally. this is also a good time to teach table manners, social skills, cleaning up, shared responsibilities between partners and how to cook and enjoy eating healthy meals.

It provides children with a routine, sharing information, and have open lines of communication especially when children grow into teenagers. Furthermore, it also sets an example of what is good eating nutrition. Most importantly it makes people feel connected to others.

Biological benefits:

Routine provides the rhythm of life, it makes us stop and focus on eating healthily taking note of our posture which improves digestion. In addition, the act of talking and listening also slows down the eating process.

And so we come full circle. After we have sat down for a comforting meal that may have brought joy and satiety, it naturally opens us up to feel gratitude and love for the amazing people who would have cooked for us.

Do you want to learn how to cook a delicious, nutritious meal?

I run workshops on cooking classes. Come on a journey with me where I can show you how to cook for yourself and others. Cooking skills include chopping boiling, pouching, steaming and preparing food. Then sit down and share a delicious meal together that you have created.

Or maybe you are needing a personalised nutrition consult or some simple nutritional information?

Why not contact me, send me an email or give me a ring

References:

Aahaanihaar. (2018). Cooking with love, care & attention. Retrieved from http://www.aahaarnihaar.com/cooking-conscious-love-care-attention-prayer/

Delistraty, C. C. (2014). The importance of eating together. Family dinners build relationships, and help kids do better in school. The Atlanic. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/07/the-importance-of-eating-together/374256/

Dunbar, R.I.M. (2017). Breaking bread: the functions of social eating. Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology 3: 198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40750-017-0061-4

The Family Dinner Project Organisation. (2018) Retrieved from https://thefamilydinnerproject.org/about-us/benefits-of-family-dinners

Quick B. L; Fiese B. H; Anderson B; Koester B. D & Marlin D. W. (2011). A formative evulation of shared family mealtime for parents of toddlers an young children. Health Communication 26: 7, 656-666 Doi: 10.1080/10410236,2011,561920

To the Kitchen, with Love.