LIFESTYLE
Nourishment and nutrition for the soul
U
ntil recently, I have never put much thought into what I eat as it relates to how it truly makes me feel. Specifically, how my external body and my internal thoughts are tied to what I have consumed on a daily basis. I would frequently see a billboard advertising a spaghetti special on Mondays or I hear a commercial on the radio announcing a coffee happy hour, which would inevitably lead me to making convenient, yet unhealthy food choices. Usually, whatever I am craving, or unfortunately, what fad diet I was following that month, determined what I chose to eat or drink that day. The convenience of rich unhealthy foods parade around me like flavor soldiers taking down my balanced diet goals in a war I nonetheless have surrendered to, although very willingly. Health issues over the past five years have exhausted my efforts to eat healthier and have pushed me to the brink of giving up, until I mindfully and carefully transitioned to a plant-based diet. I now savor vegetables and fruits in their natural essence. For the first time since my childhood, I am transported by the smell and taste of the earthy just-picked tomato with its fresh, sweet and juicy goodness. After several days of eating whole foods, my authentic self is undeniably evolving into a different person, including clarity of thoughts and an easy-going nature. Going back to a simple way of eating provides me with such deep gratitude that I now feel it in my soul. This purposeful change has taken on a cognitive connection to my food intake—one that I could never have imagined. I can see how incredibly balanced my emotions and physical body have become—unlike my past impulsive diet choices, which would actually cause my concentration, memory and anxiety to overflow beyond repair. Rituals with food consumption, such as family meals, traditional cultural dishes and comfort foods, reign like a king. The traditional decadent meals that are the focal point of any holiday all have a place in our society and, of course, in my daily life. These food
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choices often are unhealthy and rich in fat, sugar and salt. While they may satiate our immediate craving, they do not serve our praiseworthy soul. During the pinnacle year I gave up eating animal meat, I learned a valuable lesson. The trigger was my experience with comfort foods when, for example, I immediately felt like I was missing out on Thanksgiving if I did not have a side of ham and turkey. After eating a small amount of each, I quickly became sick and had emotions of devastating sadness. The adverse
experience with eating the animal meat forced me to reflect on why I had this type of negative reaction. The reason was not only had my diet changed, but my values concerning how animals are treated when they are prepared for human consumption was inhumane, causing me to feel their suffering, too. This was the first time I realized my nutritional choices did not just effect my health, but greatly affected my psyche—viscerally stimulating the core of who I was on a much deeper level. Another issue I encountered with my food intake was my participation in overeating. I have never been an emotional eater, but realizing I was overeating at least once per day really changed my outlook, not just what I was eating, but how much. I noticed
Frances Graham, vegan private chef, owner and operator of Nourish’d Culinary and Catering
Lead Up for Women
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