Happy Thursday Everyone!
Yup! A double dose of Picnic Lunch this week! Why?
Why not?! Welcome to the first installation of Picnic Lunch: Treat Yo' Self!
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsABTmT1_M0[/embed]
BTW we're sure Donna meant, "Fine {Faux} Leather Goods." :) Here's one of my favorites... eco-friendly Matt & Nat Bags. On my "to treat myself" list... but I digress...
Something that comes up a lot when talking to folks about veganism is the question, "Isn't it hard to stick to such a strict diet?"
A) Nope. It's awesome.
B) It's not really restrictive. It's awesome.
C) We're looking at this all wrong!!! It's awesome!
My decision to not consume animal products isn't a punishment or a sacrifice. It's something I get to do! It's a privilege. It's a privilege that I honor and hold in high regard AND it's a way that I "treat myself!"
For folks that are thinking about taking the plunge into compassionate waters, for folks just trying to make more space for different nourishment options and even for you folks who feel that a bacon sealed tomb is a sign of a life well lived-- I hope you'll open yourself up to this point of view.
The food that we, choose or have access to, put in our bodies is literally what's fueling us. Our caloric consumption literally gets sent out and enmeshed with all the fibers of our being. So, if we are lucky enough to have some choice around our food, it seems like we should consume consciously.
We're giving our bodies the right materials to go forth into this sometimes challenging and chaotic world. And it's my belief, that this extends beyond the physical. {I'm not going to talk ya'll yet about energetic components of this, cortisol and biological evidence. I meant what I said when I invited you bacon lovers to the conversation.. I'm going to ease ya'll in... I'll be gentle.} This means that when I encourage you to "Treat Yo' Self!" with a diverse and nutritious plant based diet to fuel your body, I also think you should engage and try to satisfy your sight, smell, heart and spirit!
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Treat Yo' Self Mindfulness Practice
IMAGINE (meditate or practice) THIS:
Carving out some space in your busy week to treat yourself to a date night at home. Pause. Take a breath and ask your body what it needs. Something warm? Something light and green? Something quick because you want to take a walk after dinner and still get to bed early? Something you ate as a kid?
Plan accordingly and include prep time! Dinner prep reservation at 4pm? Sure! It's five o'clock somewhere!
Set out all your ingredients like they do in those cooking shows! Stay present with each step. Have you ever seen that shade of golden beet before... seriously... like ever in nature? Have you ever stopped to smell a meyer lemon versus a regular one? Do you notice how the smells of herbs intensify as you chop them?? Have you ever minced something and paid attention to the wonder of your body's ability to... mince something?
Everything done? Feeling like you're going to finally represent and bring plant based honor to Top Chef??? Everything look less than perfect but smells delicious? Awesome.
Take a seat. Don't turn on the television. Maybe turn on some music but not too loud. Get yourself a large glass of water with some citrus or cucumber (oh, you fancy huh?) Take a look at your masterpiece! Bring it up to your noise! Waft like you're a sommelier at a five star restaurant!
Take your time taking bites. Taste parts of your meal separately. Taste them together! Use your fancy water to toast your fabulous self dominating another day and taking time to honor yourself with a date night and a great meal!
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Feel any differently about the relationship to food, your body and your heart?
I know that our lives aren't setup to have these luxurious date nights all the time. I'm as guilty as the next person of eating in front of my computer while I get some work done now and then, but I try to keep it at a minimum. This practice can be done in so many different variations and at different levels. Maybe it's just five breaths before you start eating. Maybe it's a slow down after to see how you feel from what you consumed. Maybe it's just a quick internal toast to yourself!
Here's one of my favorite meals to treat my mind, body and spirit. Fancy finger food night: Bread, Almonds, Vegan Cheeseball, Olive Tapenade, Dried Fruit and Roasted Broccolini!
This meal is quick, easy and has so many different combinations! It also slows me down and cues me into the process as I assemble my plate and then assemble each bite before I eat it. Most importantly, it feels fancy like I'm treating myself!
It's all a practice in mindfulness and a celebration!
So is it hard to stick to such a "strict diet?" Click on some of the links above and you tell me! The food industry in our country is a complicated one and not without conflict (including vegan food industry) but we can minimize our harm to the world around us. There are so many beautiful and delicious ways we can treat ourselves and, though some would like to have us believe it, our pleasure doesn't have to be another's pain. This way you can enjoy, celebrate and consume with no conflict to your mind, body and spirit!
Go ahead revolutionaries- the hustle is real- take a night to "Treat Yo' Self!"
In COM|PASSionate and RAVENOUS Appetite,
Traci
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Traci is a COM|PASSionate vegan foodie and diligent student of interconnections. COM|PASSion (Intention towards passionate compassion) drives their own healing journey as well as informs their healing practices. They offer themselves here to this space to feed, nourish and create dialogue over shared conversational meals and celebrations.
"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."