the emotion of food

Hey eKa Circle,

This weeks themes are emotions- you can check out my 9 day series linking emotions to each organ in the body on my instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CZOGUsdqx59/

While I was preparing lunch today I thought hey I’ll show you what I am eating and have the chance to discuss emotional eating. No judgement just observance for some powerful conscious choices.

I have enjoyed a love/hate relationship with food all of my younger life. Working for decades making other people’s food look great in glossy magazines and top selling authors books has taught me this; while fashion dates, economies go up and down, people always need to eat! Food literally calls you. Great thing is  I know how to wrangle food, that’s for sure. Yet for myself I now choose simple. The demons I saw in my younger years came to me often in my food. Now I know how to whoop them! I have found peace with my food choices – the good, bad and the ugly. I celebrate my body as the incredible God given machine it is. I also honour my emotions as God driven creative energy flowing through me. Permission to be healthy, permission to eat a treat without guilt energy. I am grateful for a husband that places no pressure on how I look, the reverse psychology in that freedom is oh so powerful! How I rebelled against the men that set conditions and standards over my appearance and what I ate (how dare they). You do recognise the subconscious mind does not hear the word “don’t” right? Ah peace sweet peace with body image and the power to choose what is right for you.

If food is a struggle for you like it was for me as a young teen right through into my 20’s; may I suggest a food diary? You will be surprised how much emotion is packed behind each spoonful ( or even the avoidance of the spoon). It is simple really write down what you eat each day as an observer. Next to the food do a quick check in on how you are feeling. Don’t be hard on yourself – just be honest.

Food IS emotional, there are lots of reasons for that! How our parents and guardians interacted with it, were we silenced or bribed with food as a child some horridly so like grooming? Were you body shamed? How about celebrations- the joy that lingers around a fun party and what we eat together. We are water babies building water memories; frequencies that affect our cellular memory. This is why holidays and seasons like christmas, easter etc become so emotional for many families. Food reminds us of people, first dates, people we have lost, all kinds of experiences. Can you see the lesson in forcing in empty food sources when we feel empty ourselves? It makes perfect sense to me the mirrors of our life lessons pop up all around us in many fashions.

But how do you feed yourself while no-one else is looking? That is what I would like you to tap into today if you are brave enough? Who’s voice do you hear as you bring that hand to your mouth? If you would like some help in this area it is one of my favourites to coach. I have had lots of amazing success in this area. Please book a conscious coaching session and  start a food diary to observe and understand your patterns. https://ekacircle.com/bookings/

 

Here is my lunch just for your musing….a simple veg bowl full of nutrition. This meal allows each vegetable to speak “hello here I am pick me”… just like my emotions; they are now precious to me as a gauge to analyze my personal growth journey. https://www.instagram.com/p/CZQ1PdlK8Uo/

Dig the scraps right back into the soil to fertilise as everything in nature shows us that what we shed helps us to grow a little stronger. Wishing you well on your journey to healing; may your food vibrate love and healing at the highest level.

My veggie bowl and the recipes below.

 

love & light

M + E

 

More info here https://ekacircle.com/2021/06/24/the-currency-of-food/

 

Massaman Chickpeas

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 red onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tsp grated ginger

3 lime leaves

2 tbsp massaman paste

1 cup cooked chickpeas

1 carrot, diced

1 stalk celery, sliced

1/2 capsicum, diced

1 can tomatoes

1 tsp tamarind

2 tsp coconut sugar

stock or water

Saute the onion, garlic, and ginger in the coconut oil until soft. Add the lime leaves, curry paste and chickpeas. Toss over the heat for a minute. Add the remaining ingredients and some vege stock or water to cover the veg. Simmer for 20 minutes or until the veg have softened.

Orange Veg Chips

Preheat oven to 200 deg C. Slice veg of your choice and place on a large baking tray. Drizzle with some coconut oil, sprinkle with some salt and pepper and roast for 45 mins. Sprinkle with some seeds of your choice.

Capsicum Salad

Ode to my late step father robert who used to make a version of this warm capsicum salad which I just love. Roast the capsicum whole on a tray in the oven until the skin is charred. This can take almost an hour but it is worth it. For the last 15 mins of cooking toss a sliced red onion onto the tray to caramelise. When the capsicum is cooked set aside covered to sweat. You can use anything you like a tea towel, another tray etc the idea is to catch the steam. Peel the skin as best you can. Slice the capsicum roughly and catch the liquid they exude toss in some olive oil and vinegar flavoured with some hot paprika and some grated garlic. A little salt and sugar makes the flavours all marry. This is delicious hot or cold.

Chilli Cashew Broccoli

Cut a head of broccoli into large florets, I even slice the stem. Boil until just tender and refresh in cold water. Warm some butter with a crushed dried chilli and a sprinkle of garlic powder. Last minute toss in some roughly chopped nuts (I used cashews) toss the broccoli in the butter to serve.