Balanced when busy

Developing your knowledge and awareness about everyday foods is an important way to start learning how to nourish yourself on all levels. In a recent article, I set out 10 pointers on how to achieve a healthy way of eating that is fast. You can also do this by educating yourself by consulting books on nutrition and cookbooks and by attending cooking classes and workshops to receive practical first hand advice. However, to achieve « a sense of vitality » for yourself, you'll also need to consider the following questions:

1. Are you aware of what you are eating?

2. Are you aware why you eat and also why you eat what you do?

3. Have you thought about how you eat?

4. Do you choose where and when you eat?

1. The what - Being aware of what you eat involves considering the quality and preparation of your food, the seasonal food offered where you live, and your own personal food needs for a particular time of year/ time of life. Suggested action: in autumn, for example, it's good for everyone to prepare and eat small meals that are light, liquid and a little oily because it is the season when you are « letting go » of « stuff ». By limiting the load on your digestive system you use less energy. You'll also need different styles of food depending on your time of life. Children, for example, need heavier food to help them to build tissues, whereas an elderly person would need more fluid and lighter meals.

2. The why - this involves thinking about what motivates you to eat and eat what you do. Are you eating to live, or living to eat? Suggested action : consider your reasons for eating before you take a bite. The awareness is the first step to moving towards balance.

3. The how - this involves, for example, considering the speed at which you eat and where your mind is when you do. Are you sitting, standing, etc.? It is important to eat in conditions that support good digestion. Suggested action : pause for a moment before eating to reflect on the food on your plate. It only takes a second. Chew slowly, really focusing on the food you're eating to gain awareness of how your body and mind react to different foods and different ways of food preparation. If you're in good health consider going on a mono diet (eating only one cleansing food at a time) for one day once a month to get more in tune with your body and to give your digestive system a rest.

4. The where and the when - the best conditions would be a calm environment and regular meal times. The calm and the routine offer a sense of balance and security. The body is ready and able to digest more efficiently at these times and you'll use less energy during the digestion process.Suggested action: if you choose the where and when, be aware of the effect it has on your body. If you feel you don't choose, consider why. Recognise that even when the outside world seems busy, you can still create a calm environment within yourself by taking a few moments .

Bonus tip: In the words of Mark Twain, "Explore. Dream. Discover."

How about exploring new ways of nourishing yourself; daring to dream about anything that brings you balance; discovering for yourself how to apply this new awareness to your meal preparation and eating to achieve vitality?

Copyright © 2007 Janet Gomez All rights reserved