Rather than  passive consumption  ingesting  fuel to supply our bodies with energy, let’s put things in our mouths that we really enjoy.

The sensuality of good food – the look, taste, smell, even the feel of it in the mouth, all contribute to the satisfaction of eating.

As a career cook one of the things I enjoy most is the feel of the food as I prepare it.  The tactility ; the textures and substance of it, are a pleasure, heightening the anticipation of  the end result,  and I linger as I chew.   Savoring the layers of flavor,  allowing my taste buds to identify individual ingredients, is the reward.  Even a simple fresh fruit smoothie quickly produced in my antique Waring blender is a wealth of pleasure especially with the addition of chopped nuts, flax seed, rolled oats, or chopped cucumber for texture.  Don’t roll you eyes at the cucumber until you try it.  It will surprise you.

Enjoyment of my food results in less consumption.  The old saying about chewing something 10 times before swallowing is true because it forces one to slow down and we don’t eat as much.  With a little thought we can prepare foods that we linger over because of the pleasure instead of a sense of duty.

I will never forget my first experience with real curries.  I was  suddenly confronted with cinnamon, allspice, ginger, clove, and cardamom in savory foods where before I had only tasted them in cakes and cookies.  It was an epiphany that made me linger over each bite exploring the flavors, nearly unwilling to swallow lest the wonder would end.

“Enchant, stay beautiful and graceful, but do this, eat well. Bring the same consideration to the preparation of your food as you devote to your appearance. Let your dinner be a poem, like your dress.”
Charles Pierre Monselet, French author (1825-1888)
Letters to Emily