Soul Food (Part 1)

SOUL FOOD (Part 1)


"Food, like a loving touch or a glimpse of divine power, has that ability to comfort."

As I was preparing a pot of home-made chicken soup for my ill husband, I got to thinking about the role food plays in our lives. Food serves many functions. At the most basic level, it provides the fuel our bodies need to function. On another level, there is the physical, often sensual, pleasure of eating. The tastes, textures and smells of food can delight the senses. Food also gives us a sense of connection to those around us and to our cultural roots. And lastly, food has a deep emotional component. From "comfort food" to the satisfaction of providing a meal to those you love, cooking and eating is always a subjective, personal experience.

But I believe we take food for granted. When we sit down at the dinner table, order something through the drive-through window or pick up items at the grocery store, we do it without really considering what it took to satisy our needs. When you enjoy a salad, sink your teeth into a hamburger or munch on a bag of potato chips do you ever stop and think about the farmer who created the raw ingredients, the laborers who picked the crops or cared for the animals, the workers in the factory, the transportation workers who moved it or the grocery store employees, restaurant staff or family member who provided it to you?

Also, how often do you eat mindlessly? How often do you notice that half the food on your plate is gone and you don't even remember eating it?  In an exercize on mindfulness I was instructed to completely chew the bite I had in my mouth before taking another. I was amazed by what an act of will it was. Without even noticing it, I was in the habit of putting another bite of food in my mouth before the previous one was finished. Most people do the same thing.

Besides sexual behavior, cooking and eating are probably the subject most often regulated by religion. There are rules for what you can eat, when you can eat it, how you are supposed to prepare it, etc.. Why is this? I believe it is because of the important role food plays in our lives. It is easy to just mechanically put food in your mouth, chew and swallow without really thinking about it. Creating rules and rituals around food makes us stop and think.

So how can we get more joy out of our food? Here are a few suggestions: 1) Try the mindfulness exercize. Not only will you eat more slowly which helps you eat less, but you will actually taste the food you're eating. 2) Don't eat while doing something else like reading, watching television, going online, etc.. When you can, make your meal the focus of your attention. 3) Share the eating experience with others. Have family dinner time. The communal aspect of sharing a meal holds great social and emotional value. 4) If it fits with your view of religion, say a blessing before you eat. Thanking G-d for his bounty reminds us to be grateful for what we have.

And above all, enjoy!