Mindful eating starts with food that is nurtured with love

The other day I sat down to the most wonderful bowl of delicious soup that had been made for me.

We all know the term ‘soul food’ and this was one of those experiences. I felt that soup was healing me as well as nourishing me. I contemplated that part of the healing probably came from the range of incredibly healthy ingredients in my bowl, and that it had been prepared with care and love; a complex orchestration of spices and herbs with home-made stock and certified organic grains and vegetables.

I have always felt that to cook for someone is an act of love. To produce something from yourself; to create, with the intention of nurturing and nourishing, for someone, is a special gift.

At some point we have all cooked a special dinner for a loved one. But how often do we put this effort onto our young children’s meals?

It’s always a challenge to find something they like on that particular day, something that reflects healthy choices, and sometimes meals at home (in my experience) seem to feel like a drizzle of finger foods (albeit healthy ones) as quickly as can be produced.

I remember one of my high school readers, Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant.

One of the themes explored was that one’s attitude to life is reflected in one’s attitude to food.

Recently my attitude to life, or perhaps my acceptance of a pattern, was each day is a race, and you get to sit down once the kids are finally in bed. We haven’t even had a useful dining table until today (I will rush from work to collect and assemble in time for dinner tonight!)

I am trying to change that pattern, and adjust my approach to mealtimes, if for no other reason than to have offered my daughter experiences of nurture and care and love on a plate.

If you’d like some further reading, here’s another story on Mindful Eating you’ll find interesting.

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