We’ve all heard the age-old advice: “You are what you eat.” But what if I told you it’s not just about what’s on your plate, but how you feel about it? How you think about it, perceive it, and, most importantly, how you appreciate it. It seems many of us have lost touch with the deeper, richer experience of food—a connection that’s sensual, psychological, metaphysical, and physical all at once. I have found that neglecting this connection comes with a price. Loving your food matters more than you think, and it can transform your relationship with what you eat.
Sensually connect with your food
When was the last time you truly tasted your food? I’m not talking about shoveling it down while distracted by your phone, TV, or that endless to-do list. I’m talking about savoring every bite, appreciating the textures, the flavors, the aromas. Food is a full-body experience, a dance of the senses that deserves our full attention. When we rush through meals or eat on autopilot, we miss out on this beautiful symphony. We rob ourselves of pleasure, of satisfaction, of the sheer joy that comes from engaging all our senses.
The psychological benefits of positively connecting with your food
The way we think about our food has a profound impact on our relationship with it. Negative thoughts—guilt, shame, fear—can spiral into a toxic relationship with food, one where eating becomes a battleground rather than a source of nourishment and pleasure. We’ve all been there: feeling guilty for indulging, punishing ourselves for having dessert, or fearing that one “wrong” bite will undo all our hard work. This mindset doesn’t just ruin the experience; it damages our mental and emotional well-being.
Loving your food as you eat it can break the downward spiraling of negative mental chatter
But here’s the good news: loving your food can break that cycle. When you approach food with gratitude and appreciation, you shift your mindset from scarcity to abundance, from guilt to joy. This isn’t just wishful thinking—there’s real power in loving what you eat. When you savor your food, when you truly enjoy it, your body responds positively. Digestion improves, stress levels decrease, and you become more attuned to your body’s natural hunger and fullness cues.
Negative thinking about food isn’t just a minor annoyance—it’s a slippery slope. It starts with one guilty thought and can quickly amplify into a full-blown downward cycle of stress, poor choices, and even disordered eating. But when you flip the script and start loving your food, you break free from that spiral. You create a positive feedback loop where appreciation begets nourishment, which begets more appreciation. It’s a beautiful cycle that enhances every aspect of your well-being.
The physical rewards of loving your food
We’ve all experienced the difference between eating a meal in a state of stress versus a state of relaxation and appreciation. The way we approach our food physically—how we sit, how we breathe, how we chew—matters. Stress hormones interfere with digestion, leading to bloating, discomfort, and even weight gain. But when you approach your food with love and mindfulness, your body responds with ease. Digestion becomes smoother, nutrients are absorbed more effectively, and your body thrives.
The metaphysical perspective
Food is more than fuel—it’s a connection to the earth, to our ancestors, to the very essence of life itself. Every bite you take is a link in a chain that stretches back through time, connecting you to the farmers who grew the food, the earth that nourished it, and the cultural traditions that shaped how we eat. When you appreciate your food, you tap into this deep, sacred connection. You honor the journey of the food from seed to plate, and you honor yourself as part of that journey.
Take a moment to love your food before you eat
So, the next time you sit down to eat, I challenge you to do something radical: love your food. Appreciate every aspect of it—the sensual, the psychological, the metaphysical, the physical. Notice how it changes your experience, your mindset, and your body. Notice how the simple act of loving your food can transform your relationship with it, making every meal a celebration rather than a chore.
And if you’re ready to dive deeper into this journey of food appreciation, stay tuned. There’s a ride coming up—a journey through the many facets of your food story that will change the way you think about eating forever. But that’s a tale for another day. For now, let’s start with this: Love. Your. Food.
Because, in the end, it’s not just about eating. It’s about living, fully and deliciously.
Frank Pratt
I have tried this program and it has worked for me. Especially the part which pushes eating as a celebration. A prayer of thanks, even. After Teresa’s last course on Mindful Eating, I have been able to drop my senior weight from a toad-like 185 to down in the low 170s. Cutting down on the carbs, especially the junky sweets, potatoes, and bread helped. But what I think really made the difference is the slower chewing and taking time to savor. This resulted in much smaller portions. And I no longer feel so damn gulity about the occasional doughnut or chocolate. After all, I am my father’s son. he used to jokingly say : “Pratt’s don’t eat sweets” as he brought a big bag on Dunkin’s into the household. (while winking ,and stuffing his own face with a jelly doughnut.) DNA doesn’t fall far from the base of the family tree, does it? Now when I eat an ocassional sweet , I celebrate that family legacy, and my dad , who is my ultimate hero in this worldly production which we call “life”. Just as long as it only ONE doughnut, chewed slowly, and celebrated as one extented prayer of gratitude. same prayer applied to the fish and rice and all the keto stuff. And everyone, Please-Make an effort to eat local. It is the single , most important thing an individual can do to reduce carbon foot-print. Other than maybe voting intelligently. Plant a garden, farmers market, catch and cook your own fish. Enough preaching-Celebrate. Thanks, Teresa- FBP