Reflections on Eating

"If Spring is rebirth, summer life, Winter brings peace, then Autumn is Reflection."

The past couple of years, i have become more cautious, more aware of what i eat.  I have been trying to buy whole foods.  Foods in which i know what all of the ingredients are on the label.  This is a hard, daunting task at times.  I find it most difficult when i browse the grocery store.  When i come across that box of Lucky Charms, and remember my love for their overly sugary sweetness.  The next thing i know, they find themselves in my cart, being checked out, following me home and into my bowl of farm fresh milk.

And that, is frustrating.

My body gets in this mode of the need for sugar, like a drug.  But when i have the courage to cut it out, and leave it be, i recondition myself into noticing just hints of sweetness, that i find so wonderful.

I grew up in Vermont where natural food co-ops are easy to find, nearly every town had them when i left.  Big ones full of promise and pure rich ingredients.  Sure, we have co-ops here, but they are so outrageously priced and low on variety i find it hard to believe we would be able to afford it, let alone get everything we need out of it.   

So this is why i feel the need to have a garden.  To grow our own meat.  To eat whatever we can locally.  Our family income structure is quite different from most.  My husband works seasonally, then finds himself a maple farmer in the winter and spring.  Last year, we stocked up a bit before winter layoff time came.  We purchased a beef package from a local farm that brought us through April.  I tucked away a few bags of fresh summer berries and grated Zucchini.  We bought Chicken and Turkey for the months ahead, and that was it.  

This year, i am determined.  We have 200 plus pounds of pork in the freezer.  I already purchased Organic chickens.  We ended up needing another freezer, as our first chest freezer is more than half full with garden goodness.  We will get the same beef package from the farm.  I stocked up on organic chicken broth for all of the soups and roasts over the winter.  Rice, Mac & Cheese, Tomato paste, pasta, Its all stocked up.  I feel so good to have all of this ready.  My hope is that our supply of goods will last us three months.  (Twelve for the pork).  I still need to get flour, sugar, and some other baking needs, but we are pretty ready.

As living beings, we know what our body needs, to thrive and be well.  We know that having donuts for breakfast instead of yogurt and granola is going to lead to poor decisions throughout the day.  Yet, we still do it.  We still tell ourselves that "i'm worth it, i deserve a treat."  

Yet, when i stop to think about that line, i don't actually think of junk food full of artificial everything.  I think of a Chai Soy Latte, of Waldorf salads with a fresh peach sliced on the side.  I imagine a homemade chicken pot pie, with crust made from scratch, filled with goodness from our garden.  Of taking the time to make homemade bread for the week ahead

  

What i deserve is a half glass of Morning Blend in the early hours.  I deserve dark rich chocolate without preservatives   My body deserves well balanced meals, that leave me satisfied and full.  My mind craves intense recipes that follow the season we are in.  

More water, more fruit, more whole grains.  People everywhere are going back to the land.  We are realizing what effects artificial chemicals have on our body.  We are rejoicing in home grown food.  We are having the conversation.  Encouraging each other to take that step back.  To learn what it is we are eating.  To feel gratitude for the meal.  

My husband and i are doing that for each other.  He is passionate about homegrown / local meats and dairy.  I am working on realizing what is in all of the boxed food we buy.  I am making the recipes from years past.  We are learning this way of living together and we are moving forward.

Of course we don't do this religiously, but I think the real goal here is to just be aware.  Be inquisitive.   Ask questions and dig in.  Our bodies deserve these questions.  These restraints.  We know what it is we need in order to thrive and grow.  We just need to listen.

Just as my dog knows that the fresh manure piles atop our gardens are nutritious for him.  As many times as we call him out of the muck, he follows his senses right back in.  Gross, but true.

We need to take a step back from our busy professional lives.  We need to take the time to reflect on our choices for this one beautiful life. 

My goal is to listen, 

To take my time eating 

and 

Truly enjoy my meal.