Do you E.A.T?

Do you eat? It's a simple question, right? Of course you eat. If you don't, you're not reading this and more likely dead. To many people, eating is the process of just putting food in your mouth, chewing and swallowing. It's a basic process of getting energy to survive. While dining, on the other hand, is a slower process and usually fancier too. What I am addressing is that action in daily life; the consumption of breakfast, lunch and dinner.

In many cultures meals are still times to sit with family, friends and co-workers to build those relationships. It's a slow enjoyable process. In Japan before you eat you say "Itadakimasu" which is like saying "thank you for preparing this meal" and at the end you say "Gochisosamadeshita" which is like saying "It was a pleasure to have this meal". In reality what you're saying at the beginning and end is "thank you earth, thank you animals, thank you sun, thank you plants, thank you farmer, thank you supply chain to the farmer, thank you to the truck driver who hauled the food to market, thank you wholesaler, thank you person who bought the food, and thank you to the person who prepared it." You're thanking the entire chain from the Earth to the preparer. Do you think about that chain when you put food in your mouth?

It is always nicer to eat with others than eat alone, right? Really how many people really like eating alone? When you eat alone, can you remember what you ate? Most likely two days after you ate it, you will not recall. Even if you eat with others, can you remember what you had? Ask yourself, what did you have for dinner last night? How about the night before? What did you eat a week ago on Tuesday for lunch? Did you eat alone or by yourself?

E.A.T is a simple way to approach your meals.

E = Enjoy

Enjoy the layout, each flavor and the various colors of the food. Enjoy the company and environment around you.

A = Appreciate

Appreciate the farmer who worked to bring that food to market. Appreciate the truck driver, pilot or train engineer who brought it to market. Appreciate the people who made the dishes. Appreciate the people around you.

T = Talk 

Talk about the flavors, the colors, and layout of the food. Talk with each other about issues of importance. Talk about environment in which you are eating. But ... don't talk with your mouth full.

What if you are eating alone. Can you still E.A.T? Of course you can. You can still enjoy the food, appreciate all aspects of it and talk (to yourself) about the food. 

Even if you only have 30 minutes you can still E.A.T. There is always time to E.A.T

Don't just stuff your face.

Enjoy, Appreciate and Talk...EAT!