Creating a New Food Culture — jules rowlen writes

Now that I’ve gotten clear about my current food culture, what would I like it to be instead?

I admire people who treat their bodies like temples. Who live and eat green. Who never pollute their livers with alcohol, and reach for essential oils instead of antacids. I watch in awe as tiny women consume gallons of water and wonder what percentage of their daily steps come from walking to the bathroom. The people who eat salads at restaurants are an even greater enigma; they do what I’ve only accomplished a handful of times. My favorite are the runners. I’ve never run a day, or a mile, or half a city block, in my life. When I see someone running through the rain, or in the bitter cold of winter, or on a Friday night when I’m on my way to a fish fry, I am reminded of what dedication actually is. Based on this mentality, the only thing I’ve ever been dedicated to is stuffing my face.

I admire the dedicated. The people who know what they want and put their desire or goal above all else. I look up to them because that’s never been me. I’ve given up perfectly good nights of writing in favor of TV shows, and passed on the veggies for another helping of fries (still a vegetable, but not the same).

Here’s the thing: I don’t want to be a fitness guru. That’s not my passion. I just want to be healthy. I want to feel good in my skin. I want to move without fear of pain, or of losing my breath. I’d like to take a leisurely walk after dinner, not hobble from my car to the house with greasy food sitting like a boulder in my stomach. I’d like to climb a flight of stairs and carry on a conversation at the same time. I don’t want to be imprisoned by my weight forever.

I don’t think any of my desires are unreasonable or unattainable.

In my ideal food culture, there is no fear. No exclusion. No “I can’t eat this or I must eat that.” Rather, what makes me feel good, and what doesn’t? I must approach food from a place of love, rather than fear. Love of myself, love of health, love of life.

What does my perfect food culture look like?

· Love and acceptance of my body right now

· Decisions made from a place of love rather than fear

· Listening to the cues of my body for what to eat, and how much to consume

· Simplicity: ingredients as close to their original state as possible

· Constant awareness and willingness to adapt and redefine what my body needs as it evolves

· Trust in my intuition, and the wisdom to follow it

· Using the items in my toolbox (essential oils, teas, enzymes, etc) in my daily routine

· Making health a priority even when traveling

· Putting my body first; speaking up for what I need, regardless of potential backlash

· Questioning my habits and choices, and dispensing with those that are outdated or no longer serve me

· Treating myself with forgiveness and love

My perfect food culture leaves no room for gimmicks or complicated food plans. It evolves with the seasons and my body’s needs. There’s no counting calories or steps, no device for my wrist. There isn’t an over-reliance on supplements or too much attention given to the latest fad. It’s trust in myself to express love of my body through food, rather than love of food through my body. It’s intuitive and natural, like breathing.

Deep within we inherently know how and what to eat; my new food culture seeks reconnection with that voice. This connection cannot be found or fostered through a diet book; I must turn inward to find it. And once I do, more importantly, I must listen.

Food is simple. We’ve made it complicated. While my new food culture doesn’t organize itself into neat categories of poor versus healthy food choices, it removes fear and allows life. It allows love, which might be a strange component to weight loss but ultimately the only one that really matters.

And that, my friends, is a food culture I can live with.