Food Is Love

While I was in Italy I took the time to observe the act of love that is food every day. From the moment I woke up to the moment I went to bed, the art of eating was either in action or in conversation.

At 8 am I would wake up to the sound of family in the kitchen, making the morning espresso and preparing for lunch. My husband and I would come down from our bedroom to be greeted with a small table setting for us. Our Cappuccino mugs set on a small plate with a spoon. Both of which rested upon an individual place mat per seat. There would be bags of cookies to choose from or a heated croissant waiting to be eaten on a separate plate. In the center, a small heated tin pitcher of milk and espresso were ready to pour along with a bowl of sugar to prepare our cappuccino to our liking.


Lunch was always served promptly at 2 pm. Most of the food had been prepared prior to lunch so that it's easy to have the table set according to schedule. The table cloth is laid out and each seat at the table is set with an empty bowl sitting on an empty plate. Forks and knives are carefully placed beside the dinner-ware along with a glass for your water and/or wine. Pasta is always served as a first course, then comes the meat, vegetable and salad. There is always bread and cheese to choose from to add to your meal. And if that wasn't enough already, we finish off with some fruit, dessert and an espresso. I find I have to pace myself and eat small portions as to not turn away food. You see, in Italy, "No thank you. I'm full", is not an acceptable answer. During lunch we usually talk a bit and watch the news and talk a bit more of what we will be eating for dinner that night or what we would like for lunch tomorrow. After everyone has had their espresso it is safe to clean up and like clockwork the plates are cleared and  the table is reset back to neutral. The dishes are done and preparation for dinner begins. For those that have come home for lunch from work usually take an hour nap before heading back to work since lunch is a 2-3 hour break for most people.

At 8 pm dinner is served. Once again a clean table cloth is covering the once bare table. The dishes are set ready for food to be served upon them and not a chair at the table is left behind. You see, even if someone isn't coming to dinner their place is set for them in case they change their mind. Talk about feeling welcomed at the dinner table! Dinner is very similar to lunch in the sense that it is balanced with pasta, meat, vegetable, bread, cheese and fruit. Being mindful no to forget dessert, coffee and a shot of Limoncello or Sambuca to top off, not only the dinner but the day.

Eat, rinse and repeat. The art of setting a table and preparing a meal for everyone to come home to it seems like a special occasion but in Italy this is everyday life. So much love and thoughtfulness goes into each meal with everyone's considerations, special needs, requests and well, just needing to eat.

Here in America we tend to eat when we're hungry. It's usually something quick and on the go since we don't allow ourselves 2-3 hours to rest during the day from our work. We barely set the table and tend to talk more of the weather than what our next meal will be.

In yoga we practice being mindful. So taking this on inside of the food we eat and how we prepare and eat may become complete game changer. When is the last time you prepared your meals? When is the last time you cooked from scratch? When is the last time you prepared the table even if it is just you?

Food is love, from the way we think about it and prepare it, to set the table and how we eat it. Love your body, love your life. Eat well and fall in love.