Over my career, I have worked with a variety of clients. From the health and wellness world, people wanting to become stronger and lose some weight, to the pregnant mamas and newborns bringing life into the world, and in long-term and end of life care, where comfort and enjoyment in their diet is their world. I’m fortunate to have witnessed quite a lot and I really love all areas of nutrition as I become energized by supporting wherever that client is and helping them achieve their own personal life goals. Today, I could share with you so many areas of this week and this day, maybe go into details about the health benefits of lamb or unleavened bread, but I took a pause and deeply reflected on what I wanted to share with you. And for me, it was clear as day…
As we are all living this life, today is the Thursday in Holy Week, where Jesus Christ had his last supper. He was surrounded by his 12 closest friends, possibly a few additional loved ones such as his mother, Mary. He served wine and bread, blessed the food, and shared his love and wishes with those around his table.
The emotional ties that either propel us forward or hold us back, can also lead us to rejoicing that all too common human element that we must have everyday…food and nutrition. Granted, some indulge more often than not, but I ask you:
If today was your last day to have dinner, what would that setting look like?
Who would be around your table?
What would be the meal, the sides, the dessert, the beverages?
What would you say?
I know these are deep and personal questions, and I’m not asking for you to share them with me (unless you want to, please reach out and I’d love to help you create your meal plan or last wishes, the journey is yours for the taking). I’m just wanting you to dive deep into what foods and beverages are most important to you and how they make you feel.
It can be as fun and enjoyable as this video….my daughter when she was three…singing about speckled frogs eating the most delicious thing…a bug!
The Body's Five Senses: connecting with your senses and food
Food has a powerful emotional connection with us and our memories. As we discover what we eat, each of our senses helps us uncover what is about to go into our bodies. Just thinking about food starts the digestion process, it triggers in your brain to release enzymes in your mouth (think Pavlov's dog). Your nose picks up the aroma of the food, is it ready to eat or past its expiration. You may hear the food cooking, the sizzling of the pan, the chopping of the vegetables. Your eyes see the food, it is ready to be enjoyed or not i.e. covered in mold, wilted, or too green (fruit not ready to be picked). When you actually pick up the food and/or place it inside your mouth to eat, you can feel the texture, break up the bonds, and know if it truly is edible. These are the main five senses (mind, smell, sound, sight, touch) we experience and they all are creating neurological connections. These connections can help us in a fight or flight response as well as tie the experience to this very moment. Are you having fun or something to avoid? Understanding the outcome of this question is one I regularly use when working with clients to determine if these foods are causing sensitivities to the body, difficulty digesting, and even triggering a past traumatic experience.
Are you having fun or something to avoid?
As you start to navigate what your yum is, I will share with you a client I had years ago when I was in a long-term care facility. The resident was healthy and just a delight. During breakfast, I did my regular check-ins with all the residents and she stopped me and said “I LOVE this meal, (a cheese danish), it’s one of my favorites.” I was so excited to have her share this with me, as the menu was on a six week menu cycle and I knew it was only going to come up twice within this cycle (at breakfast once every three weeks). Later that week, she requested to speak with me and asked if she could have another cheese danish for breakfast again. Of course I said “yes”! I wrote an order and also connected with the chef at the time. Unfortunately, they just could not get the danishes in time. For the next few days, she kept asking, which led me to keep asking with the same response 🙁. I even asked if I could purchase a cheese danish from a local bakery, but she only wanted the same one from the kitchen. This of course was not okay, but she said she could be patient. When the next cycle came up (three weeks in this case), she received that requested breakfast cheese danish. We both celebrated and I was able to get her another one (double order for a double special person). The following day, she quietly and peacefully passed away. There are various reasons this may have happened, but I always think, she timed it just so, she was patient and when the time arrived, she had her last yum, her last “supper.”
I don’t know why her last and most delightful meal was a cheese danish, but I will say, every time I have a cheese danish or even think of it, I smile and am grateful to have known her. Having this knowledge, I still don’t know what my meal would consist of, but my most important foods and flavors are pretty broad. Fresh, organic, local are just some buzz words, but they are important as it feels right with both my body and my mind. When I eat fresh foods, I feel the nutrients are at a peak and deliver easiest to my body. When I eat organic, I’m less anxious and worried about all the toxins and chemicals on my food that could enter my body (even if I wash really well before eating). And when I eat local, I know my money is going directly to my friend, the farmer or my friend the grocery store owner where both our kids play softball together. Knowing the origin of the food and condition of the land is important to me, and it feels and tastes…right. For flavor…I like so many flavors, from the fresh herbs in my garden to spices like saffron (but I am furiously trying to grow these in the PNW…we shall see), flavor is really important. When I make a meal or dine out, these are important to me and feeling the effects of these points is how I select my food.
What does your body tell you?
After knowing what is important to you when selecting foods, I encourage you to think about what your body feels like after you eat. Give yourself not just the opportunity to enjoy the foods, but savor the flavors and try as many meals as you can. As you enjoy these foods, see what it does to your body.
Are you smiling?
Do you feel nourished?
Are you relaxed?
Are you craving something else?
Are you in pain?
What is missing?
These can help you with other key takeaways. The foods that make you happy, maybe they need to be in your life more. What foods did you avoid? Maybe they need to be less in your life. How do you feel after eating? Maybe this needs to be explored more, maybe even with a professional to help guide you.
At the end of the day, I hope you can enjoy the things that fill you up, make you happy, help you rejoice and may today be the start of a beautiful year. I pray it’s not your last supper, but I know as you continue to learn more about yourself, that you can share that with others!
Happy Easter! May peace be with you.
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