Food plays a variety of roles in our lives and community. For many people, it was and continues to be about survival. At its best, food is culture, unity, comfort, expression, love, and nutrition. I live by the mantra “Food is medicine”. This phrase is similar to, “you are what you eat” or “your health is your wealth.”
Although I prefer to live by “Food Is Medicine,” each of these phrases speak to the idea that food is a powerful force that can positively enable or negatively disable us. Consider this: your car needs gas, so you think about which gas station you want to go to, gas prices, which station has better quality, and which grade of gas is “healthiest” for your vehicle to run properly. I like to believe this logic can be applied to our bodies as well. Your body is a physical vehicle or vessel that gets you to where you need to go and allows you to do what you need and want to do. Just as I feed my car the gas that it needs, I do my best to feed my body what it needs. It's no secret that so much of our community suffers from some level of chronic illness or disease. Illness is equal to inflammation, which is essentially your body’s immune system attacking itself and causing damage. It’s also no coincidence that due to systemic racism, and discrimination, it can be difficult to access affordable organic and healthy food in predominately black and brown communities. Because food is deeply tied to culture and tradition, we often eat what our families and ancestors have eaten for generations. This week, I invite you to ask yourself: what did I eat today? How did it make my body, mind, or emotions feel? What foods gave me energy or a sluggish “itis”? Did I have a headache or stomachache after eating? Asking yourself these questions periodically will support you in being in-tune with your body and keeping track of how your body reacts to foods. I’m never here to shame anyone for the way they eat. My goal in the work that I do is to provide people with insight (tools) so that they are empowered with options. In the upcoming weeks I’ll be sharing recipes that are delicious, healthy, and mostly Plant-Based. I will also be sharing food tips, and perspectives on how food impacts mental, emotional and physical health. |
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