Food Food Food Vibrations (sung to the tune of Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys)
Our bodies are energy, vibrating at different levels of speed; foods also have vibrational frequencies. The kinds of foods that vibrate at higher levels are living uncooked fruits, vegetables, sprouted grains, seeds and nuts that are all rich in life force enzymes. Processed and chemically altered foods vibrate at a much lower frequency. For optimum health the goal is to feed our bodies as much of the higher frequency foods as we can.
MINDFUL MENU PLANNING
Thinking of good vibrational food, lets start with the mindful selection of foods to prepare. Imagine that you could select food based on how you knew it would make you feel. For example did you know that tomatoes contain something called PEA (phenylethylamine) that gets the “sex” pumping. PEA gives us a feeling of euphoria, creating a rush as it causes the release of dopamine (the happy hormone). Kale is high in folate, a B vitamin that can help elevate your mood. Quinoa is a seed, which is a perfect protein in and of itself. Normally you need to combine plant proteins to get a complete protein, quinoa does it all by itself. So how about a quinoa tomato & raw kale salad? And how about a dessert to follow up that delicious nutrient dense meal, how about a lovely piece of dark chocolate, which is another food that is high in PEA. A little lemon verbena tea after your meal will leave you with a calming effect. These are just a few examples of how you can choose foods to improve your mood and your life. So now we have our menu, what is our next mindful step?
MINDFUL COOKING
Before we begin cooking let’s start with a body check-in, stand and feel your feet solidly on the ground, make sure your weight is evenly balanced and imagine your feet really connecting to the earth. Take a few deep slow breaths in thru your nose and out thru your mouth, feel yourself relaxing and yet becoming more aware. Now is there any place in your body where you feel really good right now? Focus your attention on that place and just feel into that place and enjoy being present with your body for a few minutes. Now as we begin to cook mindfully we will be more conscious of how we are feeling, we bring any emotion in our bodies into the food as we prepare it. Also staying in focus will open our senses of smell, taste and sight that are all important to creating our meal enjoying the process, tasting often and ensuring the visual presentation is pleasing. Connecting with yourself and the food ensures that the results will be just what you need to feed your body and soul.
Final step on our mindful kitchen journey is MINDFUL EATING Have you ever sat down at a meal and allowed yourself to savor every single bite, focusing only on the occupation of eating your food. Put aside the book, the phone, turn off the tv, sit at a table with your feet flat on the ground and your spine straight, look at the delicious food you have prepared and really see it, the color and texture of everything on your plate. Feel your gratitude for the food you are about to consume, really pause and reflect on where it all came from, who grew it and how it came to be on your plate. Hold your fork in your non -dominant hand (requires more concentration) and really feel it in your hand, fill your fork with food and place it in your mouth. Feel the food in your mouth and start chewing slowly enjoying the flavors and the textures. Try eating your entire meal this way just slowly savoring every single bite.
Pause at moments and notice how your body feels as it is nourished. When you keep bringing your attention inside your body you feel more connected and it is by nurturing and expanding this connection that you will be come more aware of when you are full from eating or if your body is sensitive to something you are eating. You will also be nourished by the satisfaction you feel when you bring your body mind and soul together to create and enjoy.