Oftentimes, when people are eating, the focus is on how the food tastes, looks or smells. Everyone appreciates a good meal, so this makes sense. One of the ways in which I have shifted my own eating in the past year is to focus less on the taste and more on whether the food nourishes my body. Between teaching, chasing my daughter and general running around, I lead a very active lifestyle. It has become clear to me in the past year how much good food supports my daily life. Before teaching a class, I need protein, carbs and lots of water; this is what fuels my body. When I was breastfeeding, I sometimes felt drained and weak, until I switched my eating to include more strengthening foods like kale and quinoa. I strive to nourish my body to help myself get through my busy days.
I have issues with dairy and I feel congestion in my throat and sinuses on the morning after I indulge in dairy. So, instead of focusing on how good that scoop of ice cream looks, I ask myself, how will this make me feel tomorrow? I try to eat foods that sit well with my body and contain adequate nourishment. Of course, everyone indulges from time to time, and there is nothing wrong with that. But I do believe that thinking about how a food will make your body feel instead of how it tastes is an issue to at least consider when deciding what to eat.
Remember that our bodies are very wise, and we should listen to them. Paying attention to what sits well with your body and what your body rejects is a great way to get a sense of the types of food to include and/or avoid in your diet. Nourishing ourselves through food provides the energy and sustenance that we each need to get through our days.
So, they next time you are presented with a food option, consider not only how it looks, tastes and smells, but also ask whether it will nourish you. How will it make you feel?
Leave a Reply