As the holiday season approaches, food takes on many meanings. It becomes a symbol of comfort, celebration, and connection. Yet during busy or stressful times, our relationship with food can shift from nourishment to numbing.
Many of us reach for sweets or heavy comfort foods not because we are truly hungry, but because we crave calm, safety, or joy. It is a human impulse to fill emptiness with something tangible. But when we pause long enough to listen, we often discover that what we are truly hungry for cannot be found on a plate.
True nourishment begins with awareness. When we eat with intention, we start to notice how food affects not only our bodies but also our energy, emotions, and clarity of mind. Carrie Demers, in Food for the Wise, reminds us that food holds more than nutrients. It carries the energy and consciousness of where and how it was grown, prepared, and shared. When we eat fresh, whole foods prepared with care, we absorb the calm, clear qualities they hold. When we eat hurriedly or choose processed foods created without mindfulness, we may take in the same restlessness or dullness.
As you move into the holiday season, consider nourishment as a whole-body practice.
Eat for energy: Choose foods that sustain steady energy such as colorful vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats.
Eat for balance: Hydrate, rest, and move regularly to keep your body’s natural rhythms steady.
Eat with mindfulness: Before reaching for more, pause and ask, “What am I truly hungry for?” Sometimes the answer is not food but rest, connection, creativity, or a deep breath.
Food gives life, and in that act, it connects us to the source of life itself. When we prepare and eat with gratitude, we honor not only the food but also the people, places, and energy that sustain us.
During this season of abundance, may your meals bring both grounding and joy, and may your nourishment extend far beyond the plate.