Food As Self Care

Bubble baths and face masks are quite popular these days as self care, (I love a good hot bath myself!) but have you ever thought of the food you eat or how you eat it as a way to take care of your body?

The phrase ‘you are what you eat’ has a lot of truth to it. If you consistently try to fuel your body with junk, you will get junk performance. Notice I said ‘consistently’. I am not saying you can't have treats, but use common sense and moderation. 

Now, before I get started I want to make something clear- I understand that everyone has their limitations. Be it time, money, for food access. But I tried to include something for everyone on this list, and I hope you can find at least one thing from this list to add  into your life. 

Eat Mindfully
When it comes time to eat, focus on your food. No mindless scrolling. No walking, talking and eating. No watching TV or driving. Just you and your food. Take your time to savor textures and flavors. Take your time and enjoy. 

Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary
Do you have something you do everyday like a soothing cuppa tea at bedtime? Make it special! Use the gorgeous china tea cup from grandma or the plate that makes you smile. Or that box of tea you have been saving for a special occasion. Today is special, treat it as such!

Connect with Where Your Food Comes From
Take an afternoon or quiet Saturday morning and visit your local farmers market or farm. Most farmers are happy to answer any questions you might have about thor growing practices. 
Another thing is to see if a local farm offers tours. Some have regularly scheduled tours you can join, others are glad to offer something if you ask nicely. 

Take Time to Cook
My last job I worked crazy insane hours (7 days a week, 10-12+ hours a day) but I had access to the most AMAZING whole diet CSA (Meat, veggies, grains, flours, dairy) so if I wanted to eat, I had to cook from scratch. I came to enjoy cooking in the evenings, it was a time to relax and experiment with amazing food I had never tried before. My biggest takeaway was to fry anything green you don't know what to do with in lard. 
Either use the time just for yourself or connect with family and friends. Some nights I’d rock out to music, others I’d skype my parents. 

Connect
Use food to connect with friends and family. Make a meal together, have a meal together. Lots of families have a tradition of Sunday breakfast at Grandma’s. Find something that works for you and make it your own!

Nourish
Your body can’t run at it’s best if you don’t fuel it with nutrients. Now there is nothing wrong with a big bowl of ice cream at the end of a trying day, but fueling your body for the day ahead can be more productive. 
Think whole foods- fruits, veggies, meat. Bonus points for local or organic, but do the best with the resources you have. 
Listen to your body and what feels best for you. I personally like the Weston A. Price Foundation for advice on nourishing your body using ancestral wisdom. 

Have a Picnic
What better way to take a break than with a picnic? Double points for connecting with nature. Alternatively, have an indoor picnic if the weather is too bad out. 

I hope you are able to use food to incorporate new ways to take care of your body. I made sure to include something for everyone- introverts and extroverts included!

What are some of your favorite ways to add self care?​