29 January 2023

I’m inspired by my friend and colleague, Julienne Ryan, and a book that I am currently reading, “Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age.” The premise of the book (so far) is that our connections and empathy are suffering due to the lack of personal conversation. Social media and texts keep us shallow; they help us remain “safe” by not having to delve into the tough conversations or - heaven forbid - the boredom of silence. You may wonder what this has to do with food and nutrition. And I want to answer that.

Through the ages, food has been a connector. We “break bread” together as a sign of trust and curiosity. When we take out our phones at that table, we are basically saying “we (or you or I) are not enough for this conversation”. Cooking is a great way to learn to be more comfortable and confident with ourselves. It’s ok to be messy, as opposed to the precision of a perfectly worded text or a curated series of instagram posts. If you never fail, you haven’t tried hard enough! When we just focus on the food and the process, we are connecting with age-old traditions, appreciating modern conveniences and attaining the satisfaction that comes from creating something beautiful.

Food is an opportunity to strengthen our connections, whether it be teaching your children to cook or sharing a homemade meal with an old friend. Thinking about our food - where it came from, all the hands that went into getting it to our fork - is also a chance to feel connected to the wider world and our environment; after all, the sun, rain and soil went into creating this amazing item of nourishment.

If you want to read more, a relevant email from Yes! arrived in my email today.

Food As Embodiment and Connection

Stay healthy, eat well!