THE JOY IN EATING

BY LYDIA FOWLER

AS a registered dietitian, I struggle with having the word diet in my title as I don't believe in the diet mentality. What I do believe in is the opposite finding an abundance of joy in eating! Can you imagine if you felt something other than stressed or sluggish or fill in the blank when eating? You may be thinking I am a bit crazy, but joy in eating can be found!

How much thought do you put into what you eat? Take it a step further and ask the why, what, when, and how of eating. Why do you choose the foods you choose? What do you eat? When do you eat? How do you eat and how does that food you eat make you feel? I find such a fullness of joy when I can pick the food, especially that which I have grown, prepare it, take in the sights and smells of it, plate it, enjoy each taste, and then feel all the energy and goodness it provides my body. If you are still with me, let’s explore this idea further.

Where do we get our eating practices from? At birth, babies look to feed within the first couple of hours and it is all about nourishment. This is also a beautiful time for creating a secure, emotional bond with your parents or caregiver. That eating practice changes once toddlers start expressing their independence. This starts at a different time for each child but happens without fail. Likes and dislikes begin to form as tastes develop.

Now consider the home and family dynamics or past experiences that influence what is provided in the home. Each family creates its own food culture that is unique and can evolve over time. It is not something parents typically talk about with their kids as they are growing up and introduced to more food cultures outside of the home, but differences are noticed. At some point early on we hope to get an education on what food is and why it is important - so imperative we make a big deal to eat one, two, three, or even six times a day.

As someone who grew up in a household that always sat down to eat breakfast and dinner together as a family, I can tell you I don't remember ever talking about what foods were important for my body or why I needed to finish the broccoli on my plate instead of feeding it to my dog under the table. It also never dawned on me that Mellow Yellow and Cheez-Its were not a healthy lunch option every day at school. Looking back, however, I see where I learned that mealtimes were a time to slow down and enjoy the food and company around the table. That practice has been something I crave for not only my household but also for my friends and the community around me.

Food is not just for staying alive. Food is for our body, mind, and spirit. Food gives the body energy and helps the body function and repair itself feeding the body. Food can feed the mind, stimulate the senses, and provide the opportunity for thought and reflection — feeding the mind. Food offers an opportunity to be aware, to be grateful, and to fill the heart with appreciation feeding the spirit. I don't see the word diet in these descriptions of the role of food. I see the words energy, function, repair, stimulation, reflection, awareness, gratefulness, and appreciation. If that doesn't give you the feelings of abundance and joy around the food, I don't know what will.

What roles of food are important to you and your family? It can be easy to get caught up in what society says to be right or wrong ways of eating. Often, we focus on challenges and frustrations with food and eating practices because of the feeling that we have to get it right. This can put more stress on what isn't working around our eating and therefore can create a loss of enjoyment. Try a more mindful approach to eating with your family. Open the conversation around food by asking the why, what, when, and how or other questions that allow you and your children to discover or even create your own food culture. Each day should bring joy in eating for both adults and kids alike!

LYDIA FOWLER, MS, RD, LDN, is a registered dietitian and personal trainer at Climb Performance Therapies. She is actively involved with A Worthy Cause, Inc, a local 501c3 nonprofit created to provide a positive space for kids and the community to learn about nutrition, movement, and mindfulness. For additional information visit aworthycause.info and follow on social media at @aworthycause.tn or @climb.ptnutrition.