Food For Thought 3/22
(Dinner)party time
When was the last time you’ve been to a dinner party at someone’s home or shared a meal with others that you made or someone else did?
Over the last 4 years a lot of people became recluse. The pandemic changed so much for us for many reasons. We stayed home for protection, however it created a lot of loneliness and isolation. I've noticed it still has been hard to return to a normal social life. I would classify myself as someone who is a somewhat social person, and I catch myself staying in more and saying “no” to social invites. One popular option that came out of the Pandemic experience was having intimate meal gatherings at each other’s homes when restaurants weren’t an option. But now we live in a world where restaurants are open again, and people are still staying in. Newsweek reports nearly half of the American population are socializing less than pre-pandemic.
Over the past couple years I became very aware of the difference between eating alone and eating with a group of people. When eating with others my digestion is at ease, I eat slower and I listen to people talk, I get to admire and smell the food. We talk about the flavor experience and the presentation. It’s so interactive, as opposed to when I eat by myself. Usually in front of a screen. Or quickly in silence, with no one to encourage me to enjoy or be grateful for what I have in front of me.
As a health coach I have researched and studied many different ways food and lifestyle benefit human health. And one of the best studies out there is one called “Blue Zones”. I’m sure many of you have heard of it. There are many books and even a Netflix show dedicated to the concept. It studies groups of folks in areas of the world that easily live to be centenarians, people who easily live over the age of 100. They studied the value systems that these amazing communities have and one of the habits universally found throughout all Blue Zones was eating with others every single night. Neighbors, friends and family, gather around a table to tell stories, lament their problems to one another and share in the abundance of food that the earth has offered. Getting to eat food that was lovingly prepared by someone’s hands for the sole purpose of nourishing the community/family.
When we sit down to a meal with others, we signal to the body that we are done for the day. We can relax, our nervous system gets to chill. We set our digestive system up for success. We get to chat and get things off our chest, talk about the hard things and the wins of the days. Both are important to acknowledge. It’s also important to be heard and recognized. When we sit alone and eat, whether it be in the car or the couch watching a screen or distracting ourselves we rob our body of all the amazing benefits that the food is there to provide for us.
I love making food for others and I love sharing the experience from start to finish. Where I got the food, what was in season, what made me want to try a specific recipe, and of course the health benefits of said food. I believe sharing homemade food is a basic human desire. One that, unfortunately, has been virtually erased from our busy technological society. Eating food with others that has been prepared by a friend or family member is special and cherished. Eating at restaurants can be a fun experience but it is so costly these days. And yes, when we dine in restaurants we are usually in the company of others, however the food is being made in large amounts for a profit. Corners are usually being cut with cheap ingredients that aren’t good for us. Even in the fancy restaurants. And the connection to the food is just as important as the human connection. There is no replacement for homemade food.
I am hungry for connection to both of these things. I hope this encourages you to explore ways to share in these basic human needs within your own communities and families.
If any of this interests you I love the Blue zones website. They also have a wonderful documentary on Netflix.
*You can also join me for a Blue Zones lunch at Altar in Chicago on 3/26. It is coinsiding with their open house so all are welcome. I will give a little talk on the Blue Zones while you enjoy a vegetarian lunch prepared by me.
*Great cookbook for easy recipes for entertaining: Nothing Fancy by Alison Roman