Good Food and Cooking as Healthcare
the what and the how of eating
Good Food is Healthcare
A friend of mine from college stopped by on a business trip and I almost didn’t recognize him. He was 50 pounds lighter and pain-free from near crippling arthritis. He made a point of saying that he only talks to people about “the how” if they ask and even then, he treads carefully. “This stuff ruins friendships and breaks up marriages,” he said.
Why don’t you look like the rest of us? he’s been asked by fellow business travelers on the road (or, more aptly, in the sky). We walked and talked our way to Blackbird, a local restaurant with a wood-fired oven where they prepare the most amazing vegetables, braise lamb shanks, and blast the most delicious bubbly-crusted pizzas. A small but thoughtfully selected wine list encourages you to try new things without making it a deal, great wine that goes with the food, that’s all. For almost four hours we talked non-stop about food, metabolism, and the gut microbiome, interspersed with catching up with family life.
While he knew about my passion for cooking and desire to share the joy of food and eating, he was surprised by my interest and knowledge of nutrition. Although we came from different motivations and timelines, we had arrived at a similar place—one of respect for and care of our body—mind and gut, heart and soul—through what and how we eat.
“Food as medicine,” he said.
And I sorta said: yes, but, food (and wine) as connection to the seasons, sensual pleasure, satiety, and satisfaction.
“The 80-20 rule,” he said — ”to preserve relationships.”
And I said: yes, but when cookies are no longer forbidden, they become no big deal. And now as I’m writing this, I would add: when you’re connected to how you feel in your body—interoceptively—the ratios naturally work themselves out.
Our conversation mellowed to embers as the restaurant began closing and we began our walk home nourished by good food, cooking, hospitality, and the beauty of the place, all of which are healthcare in my book.
Intuitive Eating = Mental + Physical Health
If you’d like to learn more about Intuitive Eating and interoception, I recommend this little handbook which provides daily practices to the 10 principles of Intuitive Eating. I’m a fan of the method because it is based on the fact that mental health is as essential to health as physical health.
In the next couple posts I will be going through the 10 principles of Intuitive Eating, sharing how I applied them. I am a believer. It is The Thing that brought permanent, everyday peace of mind after decades of disorder. For me, the path went like this:
I stopped my disordered behavior because I realized that I was hurting myself with my ED (Well, actually, this was a God moment. All the glory there.)
I stopped dieting which was great but because I wasn’t using up all my time obsessing about food and weight, I had time to feel and deal with my emotions—hello anxiety and other fun stuff!
Once I had restored my peace of mind, I began to pay more attention to my physical body and put “gentle nutrition” (the last principle of IE, and for good reason!) into practice, which is where I am now. My jeans are getting looser around the waist and it feels like a miracle. It has taken me YEARS to get here but I feel great and wouldn’t change a thing.
If you want help with any of this, I do take a limited number of private clients each season. Please send me a message here on Substack, it’s just between you and me. Someone asked me about it recently and this is what came out of my mouth, “It’s like pilates for eating.” I kinda like it. How about you?
Bye for now.
