“Oh, I adore to cook. It makes me feel so mindless in a worthwhile way.”
― Truman Capote, Summer Crossing
So often when we talk about food and diet we approach it negatively; what are the things we shouldn’t eat, what do we need to cut down on, what awful things are our diets doing to our bodies, minds and even our planet?
These are all important and valid questions but instead of focusing on the negative why don’t we spin the issue around and ask a different set of questions; what is going to make me feel good? What is in season right now? What can I rustle up in the kitchen for lunch or dinner to really treat my friends and family?
At Yeotown we believe food should always be a cause to celebrate! Unlike the exclusion diets you find at most weight loss boot camps or health farms we enjoy creating delicious, appetising and healthful meals every day and we understand the importance of good, simple and tasty living. We like to focus on what you can eat, not what you can’t! Getting excited about creating new and flavoursome food is a brilliant example of mindful living. Instead of making cooking just another chore on your endless to do list it is possible to make it part of your day that you look forward to. Savour the experience, make it a meditation. Relish the results when your loved ones delight in the results of your culinary endeavours with ‘Ooohs, Ahhhs and Mmmmmm’s, or, the most sought after gastronomic reaction, the eye roll…when words can do no justice! The greatest chefs in the world all have one thing in common: passion! And once you’ve started bringing such simple joy with such a simple skill you’ll be hooked too.
Ultimately cooking is a skill that can be learned, no one is born a great chef but by investing time and enthusiasm into your cooking skills you can easily become one. There is an overwhelming amount of information freely available to us all and the most generous gift you can give to yourself and those you cook for on a daily basis is taking the time and making the effort to cook well.
Consider the joy that food can bring. It is a source of comfort, joy, pleasure, sharing, connection, indulgence and nourishment. It is an expression of our uniqueness, our family traditions and our culture. We look forward to a meal out with a loved one, a coffee and a catch up with a friend, or a solitary picnic in the park during a lunch break. The mere smell of a certain food has the power to evoke memories of fabulous holidays, exotic cuisines and special celebrations.
We should always be mindful of what we fuel and nourish our bodies with and cultivate awareness of how the food we eat makes us feel. If it’s not good change it, but don’t forget, it is also important to be able to truly enjoy a slice of birthday cake, an ice cream on the beach, popcorn at the movies or a glass of wine as you watch the sun set.
We are so lucky to have such an abundance of fabulous produce available to us, to eat bland and poor quality meals is the biggest sin of all! So our advice to you: Get cooking! Liven up your repertoire with some fresh new recipes and fall in love with food again!
For foodie inspiration, check out a few of our current favourite recipe blogs:
http://www.mynewroots.org by Sarah Britton
http://amychaplin.com by Amy Chaplin
http://golubkakitchen.com/ by Anya Kassoff
