The taste of your intention

According to our internet bible, Wikipedia, Food is “any substance, usually of plant or animal origin, that contains essential nutrients...consumed to provide nutritional support for an organism.”

We eat life to sustain life. It is, therefore, essential to be intentional about the food we’re consuming. I put great thought into what I consume and my body rewards me for my dedication. I

select real food;  cauliflower, brussels sprouts, apples, and oranges because it makes a difference to my overall health. I sleep like a baby, never get sick and am very productive in my life and career and one of the major reasons for this is the way I eat.

I had a conversation about this very topic recently with a new friend. He is the type of person who travels nonstop with his work and is forced at times to eat very unhealthy; leaving only a few options at various airports that would normally be on the naughty list. But, when you’re hungry, you lower your standards. We have had many talks about food and he is very appreciative of the lifestyle I maintain - cooking 90% of my food at home and consuming real food.

This year he joined me and a group of friends on our annual vacation. where we stay at home with a kitchen instead of a hotel with  restaurants and room service. He was especially looking forward to the home cooked meals.

During our stay, we only eat one lunch and one dinner out, all the rest of our food we cook at home. We take turns going into town to fetch local fare from the farmer’s markets. 

One afternoon, when it was my friend’s turn to go to the market, he picked out a pineapple as a treat in addition to the required shopping list. Later that night, after dinner while we were all winding down, he went into the kitchen, cut it up, and came back outside with a bowl of freshly cut pineapple and several forks.

After the first bite, my friend exclaimed, “This is the best pineapple I have ever tasted!”

We all dug in like we hadn’t eaten for days.

Seizing the moment, I asked if he knew why it was so delicious.

He answered, ‘Because we are in Maui?”

I laughed, “Yes, and, more importantly, you went to the market and put intention into the food you want to eat. You spent time picking it out, cutting it up, putting love and kindness into your actions and so…”

“I can taste my intention,” he finished my exact thought.

Intention with your food should be everyone’s aim. When we buy already prepared that comes in a box, we get someone else’s energy. What if the food prepper had a bad day? What if they didn’t  lead with love in their heart? It can be more difficult to buy and prepare our own food, but I invite you to set your mind to it and tell yourself, you’re worth it. Your body is your reflection of how you feel about yourself.

I know because I can feel it.

When we headed back to Los Angeles after a week of relaxation, we all parted ways ready to head back into a new year. I challenged my friend to continue on

I offer all of you a similar challenge this year: put thought into what you put into your body. I promise it will reward you with taste - the taste of your delicious intentions.