This week, I randomly declared it a week of ‘doing lunch differently’ as I am often inspired by instagram and some of my favorites (including the queen of random, yet delicious, flavor combinations, Lindsay, and Kabocha Queen Sarena!), and because I have been on a huuuuuge wrap kick over the last few months, I figured it was time to switch it up, especially since I am so fortunate to work from home and really can make whatever I want for lunch, not something more suited to an ‘office’ lunch (a can-be-made-ahead wrap, for example!).
And I gotta hand it to myself…I made some freaking delicious meals this week. Take a gander below, or on my instagram and you’ll see loads of variety, which included kabocha (and lots of it, anywhere I could get it! My latest obsession, it is just.so.good!), lentils, a kickass lemon parmesan yogurt sauce, hard boiled eggs, beets, avocado and grilled chicken, to name a few. Droooool.
This week’s experiment made me realize two things: I crave good, fueling, fresh foods, and I love food. I’d so much rather devour a bowl of oatmeal than a bagel…though once in awhile, that bagel, freshly made from only a local bakery, of course, truly hits the spot, something I know that will fill me up and also taste so.damn.good. Not only do I crave good, fueling, fresh foods…I just love eating. I know that may be a funny thing to say, but I just do. I LOVE food.
Which brings me to Lindsay’s post this week, one of my absolute favorites from her, on what’s important when it comes to eating. Is it the bottom line: how many calories are in it? Or, is it, will this satisfy me physically but yes, also mentally. There is nothing wrong with food bringing you joy (it’s just when it *only* brings you joy, I suppose, where it becomes more of a slippery slope, with fixations, mindlessness etc.). And I think for me, for awhile, I was trying to break the tie of food = joy SO much as I sought mindfulness and intuitive eating, that I would see food more as the black and white: food is a calorie, how many are in it, and then I’ll decide to eat it or not.
…stealing the joy out of it, and the experience, and surroundings entirely.
Of course, there is a balance to eating joyously and healthfully, and everyone needs to find what works for them (because what works for me won’t work for you and vice versa!), but ultimately, eating and sharing and making food should be a happy experience, not stressful, or something that causes anxiety.
And this is my evolution. Coming up on almost two years into my own personal ‘food journey’ if you will, and I realize that while I still believe food is fuel, I also think you can, and should enjoy eating, too.
Because life is far too short to scrimp and pinch and overanalyze every last drop of food you eat. It just is. Don’t you think?
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Cheers friends!
Determined. To Be... 
This is EXACTLY what I tried (very unsuccessfully) to put into words when I read and commented on Lindsay’s post. You put it WAY more eloquently than I ever could sis. LOVE this evolution. LOVE food. Love food as fuel but also food as joy and celebration. And hi, I can’t wait for that fresh-from-a-bakery bagel this weekend, actually. A rare treat. 🙂
i think you both put it so eloquently. We are misusing God’s gift. GUILTY right here. Food can bring JOY when we accept it as that gift, yes, to nourish, to share, to ENJOY. You said that so well Jolene!! I just love your mind, and yOU!
I don’t count calories. Heck, the only thing on the label i do read is the ingredients now
I love how you put this Lindsay, food can bring joy if we SEE it as a gift to share and enjoy and be nourished by. I love that you don’t count calories, and it’s the end goal for me, to trust myself more, which I usually do, but still have my days 😉
Nah, you put it eloquently too 😉 It is such an evolution, isn’t it? It feels good to celebrate food and not in a fixation way. Such a shift, even if it’s taken so long to get from there to here.
I agree, food can be about fueling and nutrition, but also joy. It doesn’t mean it’s bland or boring by any means. And the fresher, more wholesome, the more satisfying on multiple levels.
Right. food should never be bland or boring. there’s no fun or enjoyment in no taste 😉
Love this post! Food is so hard for people to wrap their brains around and it really is hard to define how it should exist in everyone’s life. I started cooking when I was really little and food has always been a passion of mine. It makes people feel good, it’s a special time with family, it nurtures and fuels us. For some people eating healthy can be a challenge while for others allowing the splurges can be challenging. Finding a healthy balance of all of these is really hard. I’m so happy you’ve found that healthy balance.
I’ve really enjoyed our food posts back and forth this week! I’ve gotten into a foot rut lately and you’ve really helped me challenge myself to doing things differently! I can’t wait to see what you create this week! You and Jess have made me crave wraps now though…I’m thinking I need a wrap in my near future!
aww! this got stuck in spam! glad I rescued you 🙂 I love your perspective on this, given how much you cook from scratch at home and make such good delicious food that is hearty and healthy but also tasty!! that is so great, and it inspires ME to try more things and try to think outside the box…hello kabocha!! 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you concoct for a wrap!!
I find A LOT of joy in food, and I don’t believe it’s a bad thing! I am drooling at your meals. How do you come up with your experiment ideas?! Or even better – how do you put together your grocery shopping list? Share with me please!
it’s not a bad thing at all!! As for experiment ideas, honestly, I just threw together whatever I had in the fridge for leftovers, for fruit and veggies and just tried to open my mind to the possibilities 😉 As for a shopping list, I really didn’t plan for this, it just sort of happened! A glorious unplanned experiment! I am sure that didn’t help you at all though! I say, open the fridge, see what’s in there and toss it together!
Yes. I love it. What you said and what Lindsay said too. I wish everyone could see food this way. We’d give so much more respect to not only our bodies, but our environment as well.
Very proud of you!
More people do need to do it this way, I agree. Me included!! I am learning, piece my piece 🙂
Ummm, can you come and cook for me?? Your meals look delicious! Food is about so much more than just the calories and nutrients. It nourishes mind, body and soul. Love seeing your evolution too. It’s totally inspiring.
I’d love to!! 😉 It was so much fun putting these together and realizing how fun different combos can be! It has been such a rewarding evolution and one that will continue to evolve, I think. that’s the beauty of it! XO
I love food. It’s just too good not to!!
Your meals are always so fresh!!
It IS too good not to love food!! And I love that I CAN make fresh food for lunch, since I work from home. I truly take it for granted more often than I should!
AWESOME post! Loved it so much and I loved/salivated over every photo of your yummy lunches that you posted. So inspired! I love mixing it up in the kitchen, and I try and eat lots of veggies at lunch time so everything you posted was right up my alley!
Thank you!! Hope you make some yummy meals on instagram, soon, I wanna see and get re-inspired! 🙂
It’s funny you post this, because food’s been on my mind a lot lately. I was keeping a food journal before…but since I’ve kicked sugar, I’m realizing I have a lot more room for good, fueling foods. I haven’t been journaling…simply because I’m finally getting to a point where I feel as though I’m eating when I’m hungry and stopping when I’m satisfied. I’m learning to decipher the difference between hunger and appetite. I’m learning to say no when I don’t really want something. I’m not drinking my calories, so I don’t feel the need to count them anymore. I’ll tell ya what…it’s working…I’m losing! When I plateau, then I’ll make sure to journal again to see what’s up. That’s how I plan to use it. 🙂
Love this post friend! I think it’s wonderful how grounded and balanced you are. ❤
hunger vs. appetite, yes! same with hunger vs. boredom or hunger vs. habit. We ARE creatures of habit and mealtime comes = eat. but if you aren’t hungry, don’t eat. If you are…do. It’s that simple, yet hard to get used to, at the same time. I love that we are on the same page with this!!
You are SO right. It is a hard thing to remember but life really IS too short to stress over food. I am not there 100% but I am leaps and bounds ahead of where I was a year ago. It is awesome that you are there!!! Also… I would LOVE to try this lemon Parmesan yogurt sauce you mentioned!
Leaps and bounds is HUGE progress. it takes so much time, but you are getting there, and making smart decisions and in tune with your body! THAT is what it’s all about.