Join the dining revolution

Saturday, April 09, 2011 by: Paula Rothstein
Tags: dining, food, health news

(NewsTarget) In the old world tradition of dining, one naturally connected with food. It was consumed in season, grown locally, made from simple, fresh ingredients with names you could pronounce. The meal may have been created using a recipe passed down for generations. An hour was spent chopping and simmering its ingredients, filling the house with a powerful smell. The table was carefully laid out. Finally, the family was assembled for dinner. This is quite the opposite of today's dining experience as it is now a generally subversive event, without ceremony, grand smells and open society. All too often, a prepared meal is impertinently tossed onto a plate, with its taste coming predominantly from sugar, sodium and synthetic chemicals meant to foster addiction.

We are now on second and third generations raised on cheap, processed food as dietary staples. It is now strange to imagine living off the land, yet our ancestors would have felt lost in today's super markets of the sort that cry out for a word more impressive than "super". Faced with 40,000 choices, bearing buzz words meant to imply it is nutritious, with aisles the length of a football field, one could only describe this scenario as overwhelming and soulless.

What exactly changed to cause such a radical shift in dining habits?

It would seem modern man is of an entirely different sort of bird than tradition previously bore out. He is generally stressed, dissatisfied and easily swayed by dazzling commercials. It is well known that a poor diet based on processed foods leads to disease. Yet, modern man feels invincible even in the face of so many health challenges, quite certain a pill will fix all complaints.

Much has been made of the factors, which play a role in today's dining trends, such as lack of time and money and food marketers' influence over the general public. Not to mention we, as a culture, are guided by a food pyramid absurdly skewed in favor of crops produced via farm subsidies. However, choice is based on a set of priorities and these priorities are based on fluctuating life philosophies. Clearly, health, fitness and consuming nourishing food is not of the highest priority at this time for many people.

All is not lost, for a new revolution is afoot

Generally unhealthy, bordering on obese, is man en masse; however, a new trend is emerging. There are many joining a movement which respects nature, looks for sustainability and appreciates the taste of whole foods. The human race may be advancing quickly, but the world is not. Its soul is like a slow moving stream, and we would do well to find quiet and peace in our dining habits.

If you would like to find a way to introduce nourishing traditions into your daily life, it may be helpful to start with a simple exercise meant to change the way you relate to food. Every evening for seven days, commit to eating a completely different meal for dinner made from simple, fresh ingredients. Make an effort to use unique tastes and avoid sugar and salt. Enjoy this meal seated at a table with as much society as is willing to join you. This one exercise, if it takes hold, could help you break free from the confines of indifference.

Sources:

http://www.private-label-foods.com/2011/03/1...
http://michaelpollan.com/articles-archive/th...
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/...

About the author

Paula Rothstein is a freelance writer and certified holistic health coach active in the area of natural health and health freedom advocacy. As a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she has gained insight into the political nature of food, the failings of a drug-dependent healthcare system, and the uniqueness of individual health. For more information, please visit: http://www.medicinefreeliving.com.