Contemplative Eating.
by Nutritional Coaching associate Ashley Lindemulder
Is it just me, or can eating seem really stressful at times? You want to make good decisions for your health, but you also want to put something really tasty in your mouth. Sometimes it feels like those are mutually exclusive, but thankfully that is not the case! Imagine feeding your body, heart, and mind at the same time; we could call this contemplative eating. But what would that look like?
In many Eastern traditions, a whole-body approach to health is the norm; heart, mind, and body are all part of the equation… and all of it is spiritual. But in Western culture we tend to isolate those parts of ourselves, and one or more of these important facets gets left uncared for. Here at The Vining Center, it is our mission to provide services to nourish the whole self so that you can commune with God, self, and others to the fullest. In this post, I will focus on the physical body, knowing that its effect upon mind and spirit is profound.
What does it look like to really nourish the body? We know that food produces energy and that what we eat literally fuels our very being, but it’s easy to lose sight of the implications. Sometimes we see food as simply a necessity like breathing, or a comfort, and wind up eating unconsciously. Yes, food is both necessary and comforting, but it’s more than that. Food is spiritual. Food affects our moods, our relationships, our sleep, our prayer lives, and just about everything else in our daily journey.
The image of the Last Supper comes to mind, with the intimacy of the first communion meal shared among the closest of friends. Jesus breaks bread and shares wine with his disciples, and though turbulent times are ahead, in this moment a simple meal is a powerful act of love. Jesus is sharing his very essence with his friends, inviting them to a life of sacrifice and servanthood. It’s not just the ritual that is sacred; the act of eating itself—particularly in community—is sacred. Or rather, it becomes sacred when it becomes conscious.
Most of us lead busy lives, and cooking elaborate meals is not always an option, nor is complexity necessary to nourish your body and soul. Simply being present to your body and your loved ones, while enjoying simple but good food, is what makes eating a contemplative and delightful experience.
With new fad diets coming out constantly, it can be challenging to decipher which foods are actually good for you and which are less beneficial. Sometimes we wind up on a hamster wheel, alternating between extreme diets and binge-eating, which takes us nowhere and leaves us exhausted. How can we eat both healthily and contemplatively? Where the focus is on loving your body, normalizing different body shapes and sizes, and creating an empowering lifestyle centered around real food?
Much of my nutrition career and research has been centered around whole-foods, plant-based eating, which in many ways is a back-to-the-garden approach to health. This perspective prioritizes fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, and whole grains, while limiting processed foods, sugar, and animal products. This is not your typical restrictive diet that emphasizes calorie-counting, but a focus on quality, the eating of real and natural foods. Everyone is different, so what you eat should be tailored to your specific needs and preferences to provide you with optimal health. When we learn what our bodies need and how to best nourish them, it contributes powerfully to our mental health and our spiritual practice. We find that eating literally becomes an act of prayer and an act of love.
My passion is to help people feel truly well. If you are struggling to find the best way to eat for your body, need help managing a medical condition, or want help with meal planning or herbal supplementation, I would be happy to assist you! Feel free to explore coaching possibilities by scheduling a complementary consultation here.
Growing the Soul
Take a moment to plan your next meal. Where is the creative intersection between healthy, inspiring, and delicious? Think about opening your meal with a simple liturgy or reading.
Serving the World
Think about one action you might take to contribute healthy food to a homeless shelter or a person in need.
Takeaway
Eat intentionally. Consciously. Contemplatively.