Passionate Eating

“Food is an important part of a balanced diet.” Fran Lebowitz

The Iranian movie, “The Fish Fall In Love” is a film that speaks of eating and falling in love. It is based on the premise that people fall into two categories; some that eat their food with no passion and the others who eat passionately, the second group are successful in love. Are you madly in love with luscious food, taking the time to fill your senses with the delicious aroma of food? When was the last time you sat down and ate with passion, without feeling bad by thinking about calories, fat, or what’s healthy and unhealthy? Imagine savoring the joy of eating – the smell, visual appeal, taste and texture – and being alive during each bite. Truly experiencing food is one of the great joys in life.

This week, challenge yourself to one meal that you will eat passionately and with a sense of aliveness. Put away, for one meal, all concerns about gaining or losing weight. Let there be no counting calories, and no following strict food rules. Take a moment and imagine this to be a meal of complete freedom, joy, and passion. Close your eyes for a moment and breathe in deeply. Relax. Imagine what your ideal meal would be. Really let yourself go.

Is your ideal meal something your mom made for you as a child? Or something you had in a restaurant once? Is there an appetizer, salad, main course, a favorite drink, coffee and dessert? Or just a few special foods? Allow the colors and arrangement of the food to come into mind. If several things seem appealing, or if no particular foods suggest themselves, ask yourself about the qualities of what will satisfy your hunger: Texture (crunchy? smooth? chewy?), temperature (hot? warm? cool? cold?), density (heavy? light?), taste (sweet? sour? bitter? salty?), and so on. What meal or combination of foods would let your taste buds soar, your body melt with pleasure, and your mind feel the exhilaration of joy? When you have identified a specific meal, open your eyes and write down your menu.

Will you follow through and allow yourself the experience of creating this loving experience for yourself? Notice any objections you feel about doing this:

* This is stupid.

* This sounds good, but I don’t have the time.

* What’s the point?

* If I enjoy the food, I won’t be able to stop eating.

* I get bored paying attention to the meal.

* I don’t want to be aware of eating, it’s embarrassing.

* I don’t want to give up the numbing out experience of eating.

The Experience

Find out what it might be like to bring back the joyfulness of eating. Imagine preparing for this meal for a friend or lover that you had not seen in quite some time. Have fun planning the details and anticipating with excitement how the meal will flow. What details would make this meal absolutely perfect? Is this a meal you can prepare at home? Do you need to call your mom or relative and get the recipe? Now pick a date that you are willing to cook for yourself. Yes, you read that last sentence correctly. It did mention the words “cook” and “for yourself.” However, we’re only talking one meal. And, there’s no need to do this by yourself. Unless of course you want to. Enlist the enthusiasm of your very best friend or the support of your partner. Explain the purpose of your meal is to savor and enjoy the entire process of eating.

Shopping

“You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces – just good food from fresh ingredients.” ~ Julia Child ~

Get a shopping list together of the items you will need. For this one meal, choose beautiful, fresh ingredients. Pick foods that are alive and full of vitality. How about adding a few other items to your list? Maybe indulging in a fine bottle of wine, or special expensive imported water? Splurge for this meal. It’s okay if you only have one glass of the wine and end up throwing three quarters of the bottle away. No one will tell your mother that you’ve been wasteful. Go ahead, live on the edge. Indulge. While you’re out shopping, remember the fresh flowers, candles, and maybe even a setting of special original china.

Preparing

“Enchant, stay beautiful and graceful, but do this, eat well. Bring the same consideration to the preparation of your food as you devote to your appearance. Let your dinner be a poem, like your dress.” “Letters to Emily” Charles Pierre Monselet, French journalist and author. (1825-1888)

Cooking may not be an activity you’ve done lately. It takes a little time to prepare a meal. So plan ahead, invite your friend or partner, and approach this act with love and anticipation. Begin the process of cooking with awareness. Notice the colors of the vegetables you chose. Hear the sounds of them being chopped, and the sizzle as they saute. Deeply inhale the aromas as they begin to fill your kitchen. Maximize your anticipation by looking at, touching, and smelling the food as you chop, cut, arrange ingredients.

The Environment

Create a memory for this meal. Choose a place to eat that is peaceful, attractive, and pleases you. Let your heart choose a special cloth or scarf for the table. Arrange beautiful, living flowers in the center of the table or sprinkle rose petals around the dinner setting. Dim the lights and light the candles. Create atmosphere by listening to calming, relaxing music such as ocean waves, babbling brooks, nature sounds in the background. It might help to break the routine of how you eat by using chopsticks or no utensils at all. Use your best china and arrange the food on your plate as though for a guest.

Eat with Passion

This meal you will eat with passion. It will be a sensual and delightfully sacred experience. The food is a gentle lover that has come to take care of you, to soothe and nurture you. Eating will be an entire body and sensory experience, not just putting food in your mouth and swallowing. Notice the steam arising with the scent of the wonderful food you are about to eat. Inhale deeply. Smell the aromas and feel them as they move throughout your entire body. Delight in the experience. Now close your eyes and slowly take a bite. Allow the bite to stay in your mouth for a moment to fully appreciate the taste before you even begin chewing. Find yourself worthy of receiving pleasure that isn’t guilt ridden or secret. Allow appreciation of the food to comfort your soul and regenerate your body.

Body Awareness

Before you eat, notice how it feels to be hungry. Notice your body sensations as you become filled by the food you eat. Become conscious of your whole body. Are your muscles tense anywhere? Notice how you are sitting, and what you are thinking. Are you thinking of the sensations of the food you are eating, or have other thoughts intruded? Gently bring your attention back and breathe deeply. Be aware of your body's signal when it has had enough to eat. Not sure when you’ve had enough? Listen to your body. Perhaps one more bite will establish the sense of satisfaction? Or take a good long look at the remaining food – does it look the same as when you started? Does it taste the same as when you started?

Meal Ending

Take a deep breath and allow yourself to have this food inside of you. Say “yes” your fullness and your participation in a joyful experience. Blow out the candles to symbolically end your meal.

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