ordered eating is:
1. intentional we eat because we choose to eat, not because we
are compelled to do so through habit.
2. conscious we eat with awareness of the body, taking notice
of atmosphere, company, taste, texture, posture,
chewing, aroma, and all the sensations of the
eating experience.
3. reflective we actively listen for the body's feedback: did
the food help or hinder the body, and what can
we do next time to ensure a more fulfilling
meal?
4. exploratory we understand eating to be a learning and
exploratory process, an ongoing journey through
the unknown where both diet and body are
continuously changing.
5. transformational because our relationship to food mirrors our
relationship to life, we work with habits and
attitudes about eating to help transform
ourselves at deeper levels.
6. nourishing we understand that food nourishes by virtue of
the following:
type different foods either help or hinder biological
function.
quality foods of similar type vary in quality depending
upon nutrient content; toxic residue level; and
method of growing, storage, and preservation.
preparation the skill and awareness with which a food is
cooked and prepared determines its effect.
amount the quantity of food eaten will determine its
effect.
timing the timing of a meal determines its effect.
certain foods eaten at certain times of the day
are more readily digested, while the amount of
time between meals also affects digestive
capacity.
7. body-based we eat according to our body constitution and
biochemical individuality.
8. strategic we understand that diet functions on either
maintenance, therapeutic, or experimental
levels.
9. personalized we understand that our food choices are
regulated by our life-style.
10. seasonal we include seasonal foods in our diet to benefit
from biocosmic forces.
11. localized we include locally produced foods in our diet to
benefit from bioregional cycles.
12. synergistic we understand diet to work in synergy with other
factors such as excercise, sleep cycles, breath
patterns, and emotions.
13. communal we understand that sharing a meal with others
can be nourishing to them and to ourselves.
14. intimate we understand that eating may be a personal
experience of self.
15. connected we are aware that eating connects us to the
earth, soil, animals, plants, and waters, and
that by nourishing them with thoughtful and
conscientious methods, we nourish ourselves.
16. mindful we understand the wisdom of balance and
moderation in what we eat and what we believe
about diet.
17. spontaneous we understand that occasional episodes of
imbalance, lack of moderation, and strategic
rule-breaking are likely to occur and can be
useful and instructive.
18. broad-minded we understand that foods are neither morally
good nor bad, and recognize the uselessness of
judging anyone (including ourselves) for what
they eat.
19. liberating we understand that once a meal is finished, we
need not continue to think or fantasize about
food.
20. joyous above all else, we smile when we eat.
...the ordered eating guidelines are especially helpful because
they focus not only on health but on attitude to health. for years i
ate with tension and judged the eating habits of myself and others.
after endless searching for the perfect diet, i reached a place inside
myself that acknowledged that wherever i was as an eater, was okay. if
i ate turkey or tuna, it was fine. if i wanted ice cream, i was okay.
even if i ate nachos and guacamole until i was sick, i was still okay.
by breaking free of rules fueled by fear and judgment, i was able to
make awakened choices that worked.
--------marc david, writing in
_nourishing wisdom_
a new understanding of eating
(c) 1991, bell tower
---------------------end of quoted material-----------------------------
i hope you enjoyed. i sure did.
fruitfully,
bodhi
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