The Fabric of our Lives; Food

What is this power food has over us? We need it to sustain life. However, its power goes far beyond merely providing us with the fuel for our existence. It is woven into the fabric of the way we live our lives. Food is apart of what makes us, us. That seems like a bold statement. How is this potato me? Does this fried chicken express my inner feelings about me? Will this strawberry dipped in melted dark chocolate tell my inner secrets (oh, that sounds like a yummy Maya Angelou poem)?




The answer is yes. Food makes up the memories, feelings, and experiences of our lives. Think about the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Cake was at our first birthday. Soda splashed in our cups at our first High School dance. Pizza celebrated our first dorm room get together at college. Ice cream soaked up our tears after that painful break up. Chocolate soothed our stresses after our boss dropped a stack of undone reports with a 5 o’clock deadline on our desk at 3 o’clock. Wine swirled in our glasses as we toasted our wedding vows. Food was there.



Food is such apart of our lives. It plays in each moment; good and bad. Entire traditions are weaved around food. Italian. Greek. Hispanic. Jamaican. Haitian. Irish. Indian. Polish. Chinese. Nigerian. Eskimo. Whatever our background food plays a pivotal part of our cultural identity. It unites us. Those office birthday parties with stale store bought cake allows us an opportunity to commune with co-workers. It witnesses our romance blown; candle lit dinners with awkward silence at a tiny Italian bistro. It comforts us; that Ziti made for a small army bestowed on grieving family members after a death so not to focus on the mundane like cooking.



With such a powerful influence, how shall we escape it? No wonder Americans are obese. Food is everywhere. Should I run away? Should I shut myself away from food as if it were a rabid band of Zombies ready to devour me? Shall I lobby for Congress to outlaw food? No. That would be silly! Knowing that food has such a strong hold over the life I lead, I need to honor its presence while not being victimize by its grip. Food is not the enemy. It does not storm into my house in the middle of the night forcing me to eat a bag of Mint Milano cookies! I shouldn’t treat it like a criminal.



I need to recognize that the relationship I have with food, which I love, is all my doing. I am the one putting things in my mouth. I am the one ordering that slice of pizza. I am the one sitting on my couch at 9 p.m. eating a second bowl of chocolate cheerios. By examining my life; my culture, and seeing what role food has played in it I can then tweak that role. Oh food will still be there. I plan on having a piece of birthday cake and a sip of Champaign when I get married. However, I need to alter my relationship. I need to examine why I am eating this. Is it because I am hungry or am I falling into a cultural norm or bad habit? For example, do I really need dessert? Am I still hungry? Do I need it to sustain life or is it the messages sent to me through years of growing up fat? Also, who says dessert is pie, cake, or cookie? Why is it not peach, banana, or plum?



I need to accept that food is here to stay. It’s not the enemy. I need to learn how to incorporate it into my life in a healthy and moderate form. Too much of anything is not good for us. Too little of it works the same. Many times we think to lose weight equals not eating. Actually, if you eat too little you gain weight. First, your body goes into starvation mood and stores that fat. Second, you end up so hungry that you binge eat. Trust me, I have been there. I use to eat very little throughout the day thinking it would help me lose weight. I then consumed massive quantities of food. I ravaged my cupboards the minute I came home. Then I would wonder why my jeans wear too tight to button. I actually eat more now throughout the day, then when I was trying to lose weight, and have lost 83lbs in the process.



I see food as MVP in my battle of the bulge. It is the Michael Jordan of my Dream Team! I am mindful of its power and role. I now make healthier choices. I graze on it all day long to curb my appetite and fuel my metabolism-boosting workouts. By choosing fruits, veggies, lean proteins, whole grains…etc I am providing my body with the energy needed for this journey. Of course, I also incorporate a little of the naughty into my diet. I am not perfect, but mindful. I will waiver with a slice of pizza or scoop of ice cream. However, I will brush off the dirt from falling off the wagon and climb back on! This is a journey. Food is apart of my journey, just as it always has been.

Me enjoying a little Moe's Southwest Grill