Zoe’s Blog
Make Food Your H“om”E
May 16, 2010 | by Zoe Finch Totten | Filed under Food , Health | Post comment
Many groups over the course of human history have used mantras to shift awareness and to make connection. The lullabies I sang over and over to my children when they were babies, to soothe them, to ground them, to let them know that it was time to let go into sleep, were a kind of mantra. Many people know of the ancient Tibetan Buddhist mantra that begins, “Om Mani Padme Hum”; the sound “om” is thought to represent the pulsating energy that makes up all life and when sung, connects us to all life.
Eating is a kind of mantra. Food is everywhere and everyone eats. In the midst of our harried and fragmented lives, in which we have to change our tempo and our focus many times in a single day, food can be our “om.” Other than in times of migration or mating, every species seems to try to have the same (positive) experiences every day, to hold to a repetitive rhythm.
Most of us don’t have the good fortune of a regular and healthy rhythm throughout our days, but health-supporting foods can help us create that rhythm. Every time we eat health-supporting foods, we are connecting to the earth (from which all such food comes) and to our bodies. We just have to pay a little attention and give a little appreciation---for the earth, for those who grew and prepared and made available that food, and for ourselves and our good efforts and our valiant bodies, ever striving to be well.
In addition, when we eat with others we can connect to our communities, can join in solidarity, can unify our energies around our individual and communal and planetary health. For most of human time, we spent many of our waking hours finding, gathering, storing, preparing and eating food together. Food has always been a powerful basis for culture and while modern food has given us certain freedoms, it has also contributed to an impoverished community life and dreadful health.
I invite you to try letting food be your “om” every time you eat. When 80% of the food around us is health-depleting, a good meal or a few almonds in your pocket become a powerfully protective talisman and a way back to your h”om”e.
Posted by Zoe on July 12,2010
We do indeed! Please visit the member forum for ideas and to share your own.
Posted by Becky on July 08,2010
I was wondering if you have any thoughts on what to eat on these horribly hot days. it seems like I can't decide what I'm hungry for and it's so hot by the time we all get home nobody wants to cook or prepare foods (health enhancing or otherwise).
Posted by Becky on July 08,2010
Hi, Zoe, I definitely get the choosing health enhancing food vs. candy or other snacks which always seem to be plentiful in the office. I just think it is good to have them available rather than sitting where I can just nibble on them without intent. I still liked the videos and learned from them but just wanted to point out that having foods (which appeared to be in quantity) sitting right on our desks or computers isn't always the wisest choice. At least not for those of us that have trouble with that stress or mindless munching.
Posted by Zoe on July 08,2010
Hi Becky and thank you for clarifying our intent. The message we're hoping to convey is that, because we are surrounded by health-depleting choices, it's most self-protective and empowering to have health-supporting foods on hand---wherever we are and wherever we go. We're not advocating mindless eating (although many of us, some of the time, will eat mindlessly to relieve stress) and as you've shared in your note, being mindful about the quality of our food choices includes being mindful not only of what we're eating, but also of why and when and where we're eating!
Posted by Becky on July 05,2010
I noticed in the training videos that the actors seem to be eating mindlessly because they keep snack foods right beside their desk computer and nibble all day. Is that the message you were trying to convey? I also bring nuts/raisins/dried fruit to work but have found that if they are within reach I tend to nibble all day. I got the idea that i would move my snacks to a cabinet outside my office and then it becomes more mindful if i want a snack - I have to think about getting one instead of mindless reaching which was a problem before.
Posted by Zoe on May 28,2010
Thank you so much for commenting, Stephanie and Yolanda--it is always a joy for me when people discover the power of food and use it to more deeply engage their own energies and thereby more deeply engage in their lives. And Yolanda, the very day you posted I commented in a meeting that people who eat well look tend to look bright! Eating foods that energize us wakes up everything about us.
Posted by Yolanda on May 27,2010
I met an old friend who I haven't seen since I started this program 3 months ago. The first thing she said was, "you look so "bright" what are you doing? At first her words caught me off guard I couldn't figure out when she meant. Then I said, "must be my new eating habits, that include unprocessed foods straight from the earth", with a huge "bright" smile. Thanks for this awesome solution for better overall health.
Posted by Stephanie on May 25,2010
Your post reminds me how often I am "unmindful" of what I put in my mouth. It's just whatever's convenient, which is often pretty unhealthy food. One of my most useful tools is to actually PLAN what I will eat. Then I can look forward to a delicious and balanced meal, filled with yummy and healthy things that I love. That is true pleasure, and good for my body too! Thanks, Zoe.
Posted by Zoe on May 20,2010
Thank you for sharing the link, Rick. There is no question that eating well can support the body (and mind and spirit) in many and complex and individual ways--really, it can only help us bring the best of ourselves to whatever shows up in our lives. As for how to help change our country's norm, that is central to our mission and I hope our work and our message, along with those of others, will make systemic differences.
Posted by Rick on May 19,2010
While this isn't directly related to your specific post, I found this talk at TED about cancer and food very interesting and ultimately related... http://www.ted.com/talks/william_li.html The real question is how to make this type of eating the "norm" for society as opposed the fringe...
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