“Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.”
Hippocrates, father of medicine
Today, we nourish. We hydrate. We pay attention.
Firstly, I must acknowledge that we don’t only nourish our physical bodies with foods, but we nourish our emotional and mental bodies with the media and information we consume every day. Choose wisely. If you take in crap you will feel like crap.
TODAY though we are going to talk about physical nourishment – not about WHAT you are eating but more about how. There are three aspects we are going to touch on today and the action items tie into the food for thought – so chow down! (Oh was that a little CHEESEy for you? A little CORNy? Sorry for being so SAUCEy! )
Aspect/Action One: Gratitude: Before each meal, take time to truly be grateful for what you have. Whether it’s a delicious take out pizza or a home cooked vegetable stew, take time to thank the universe, God, the people that made it, and anyone else that comes to mind. We often take for granted having enough food or even worse, spend more time judging ourselves for what we eat rather than just embracing a felt sense of gratitude for the abundance that we have. If you have ever been without money for food, or not had the opportunity to choose what you are eating and how and when, be grateful for those choices now. If you are currently in a situation where money is tight and you eat what you can get your hands on, spend some time in gratitude for having a full belly. If you currently are in need of a meal or food, please reach out and I will do my best to connect you with local resources. As a kiddo, a lot of my nourishment came from food stamps and food pantries, so please let go of any shame and reach out if you need. (:
Aspect/Action Two: Pay Attention. Consider what foods will make you feel your best today (that you have access to), then pay attention as you eat them. Turn off your phone and eat without distraction unless it’s the company of loved ones. Perhaps you delve into the benefits of what you are eating and educate yourself briefly on what exactly you are putting into your body. Chew slowly and breathe (but like don’t choke on your food lol). You could even make a meal plan for the week or go grocery shopping to get excited about your meals for the week. This is not a day to rush meals/snacks or eat mindlessly. Pay attention, and enjoy!
Aspect Three: Hydrate. May seem overrated but it’s not. Hydration is EVERYTHING, especially this time of year. Notice your water intake today and please ensure you are drinking 8+ cups. Start a habit for the new year of carrying your water bottle with you at work or in your car. Check in with the quality of the water you are drinking. Are you making sure to get enough essential salts and minerals to hydrate? Because just plain water won’t hydrate you, despite popular belief. If you are drinking tap water, you might also consider looking into a simple water filter today, as all our tap water in the US is f****ed.
Please remember that every single person is different in what they need to eat and how they need to eat to thrive. What is healthy for one may not be healthy for another.
Sometimes food deemed “unhealthy” is actually very nourishing for your soul. If you eat it without punishing yourself and without stigma, it can be just what your heart, soul, AND body needs.
Similarly, “healthy” food, if we are aversive to it, may be difficult to digest or not sit well with us at times.
The times of day we eat, how flexible or strict we are, eating in different environments/lighting/sitting/standing, etc. all matters so pay attention to how you feel and see what works best for you.
You are your own best expert on your body – never let anyone tell you otherwise. What we need to really nourish our body changes over time and as we grow older.
A few last notes:
- “You crave what you eat”
- Human Design and astrology has insight on what is optimal for YOUR digestion.
- I don’t care who you are or what your goals are: prioritize protein.
Resource: In the FLO: Unlock Your Hormonal Advantage and Revolutionize Your Life – Recommending this again because it will absolutely change your life and your health!
A Just for Fun Resource – 2 Cookbooks! :
The Vegan Stoner Cookbook: 100 Easy Vegan Recipes to Munch
Thug Kitchen: The Official Cookbook: Eat Like You Give a F*ck (Thug Kitchen Cookbooks)
Resource: Eat Pretty: Nutrition for Beauty, Inside and Out Paperback