Category: food

I feel very privileged to live in a part of the world where I get to consider the various labels and ethoses we build up around the way we eat, rather than having to eat only what’s available and hoping it’s enough to get me through the day.

Many of us have an odd relationship with food in the Western world. It’s fuel, entertainment, a bonding experience, comfort, compulsion and forms a substantial part of the structure of our day – regardless how ‘healthy’ the lens viewing each individual’s relationship is. All of us require nutrients in some form or another to continue existing, but food has become something of personal, social and global importance and carries more influence with it than simply powering our bodies through the day.

	Variables
Personal	Health – allergies/medical conditions/etc. Personal flavour prefences Ethos (including re. degree of processing in manufacture, food logging, etc.) Confidence in the kitchen Time
Social	Family circle personal preferences Religion or culture Peer pressure (particularly re. cooking or food brands)
Global	Environmental impacts Animal welfare Global warming contribution Availability and distribution

I find myself wanting to change my relationship with food predominently from a personal health perspective – I have caught myself stress-eating sweets again, and would like to improve my physical health (weight, gut-health, energy) – but I want to make a conscious decision as to what direction I take that relationship in and how it aligns with my evolving beliefs.

I have always preferred to try to make theoretically sustainable lifestyle changes to my eating – I’m not one for crash dieting to try and lose a few lbs first in a way which is not healthy to do for more than a few weeks, and I am not a fan of ‘cleanses’ either – that’s what half my inner organs are for. Clearly the fact I’m here having this conversation with myself again shows I’m not so good at the ‘sustainable’ part of my lifestyle eating habits.

Continue reading Mindset Eating