Corruption and consumer demand in the food industry - Part 2
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Corruption and consumer demand in the food industry - Part 2
In part one of this series we presented the connection between what we as consumers are seeking from food and the kind of food products that are formed and sold in response to this.
In recognition of the many unhealthy products that are produced purely to sell well and not with consideration of how they will affect a person’s health and wellbeing, we went on to take a closer look at our relationship with food and why we might choose to purchase products like this…
Here Miranda Benhayon offers a deeper insight and awareness of how the way we live in all aspects of our life and relationships comes together to impact the way we approach food:
"It takes a lot of inner strength these days to eat well, truly well, and to not see food as a solution or reward for making it through the day dealing with – or better said, not dealing with – people and their emotions, so we are then ‘entitled’ to indulge. With an aggressive, fast-paced food industry offering a relief for almost any state of emotional being, the situation at this rate will only continue to get more out of control and take us further away from our natural homeostasis, if we allow it to be the case.
We only need to take a closer look inside people’s shopping trolleys at the supermarkets to see the extent of the situation; a clear and obvious admission that most people are simply not coping with life and are seeking more comfort foods than ever before to relieve those levels of dis-satisfaction and unease.
In my experience and observations, how people are with food comes down to their relationship with self, first and foremost. Ultimately, how willing we are to stay connected to ourselves and our bodies, no matter what we may be sensing is going on with others throughout the day, can be seen through the consistency and quality of the foods we choose."
Re-connecting to one’s relationship with self is crucial in moving from here.
Keys for consideration:
What is it that truly supports our body?
Working out which foods truly support you in your body, and equally those that do not, is a crucial step in establishing a relationship with ourselves and our bodies. Reviewing and adjusting this along the way is also part of ensuring and honouring the ever-deepening relationship with self.
What if we were to consider and commit to living and expressing (without perfection) in our relationships? What would that look like at the end of the day – especially with food choices?
There is great ritual and ceremony to be had in sharing a nourishing meal with others, as well as the opportunity to complete the day and appreciate the moments that made it what it was. Food choices can then become part of that ritual and ceremony rather than approached from pure convenience, or as relief away from the tensions of the day.
What if we were to connect to our family or our friends and feel or consider what meal would be most supportive for everyone each night, rather than placing convenience first?
Many of us practice this when it comes to special occasions, however when it comes to approaching dinners each night, often convenience wins out and is heavily shaped by the quality of day one has experienced. Considering in advance a meal option that may support family or friends – and ourselves – requires connection and space to ensure quality throughout the cooking experience. It is precisely this quality that will be felt in the end product and dining experience.
What would it look like if we examined where our appetite truly came from?
How many of us have reflected on the effect that the quality of our day has and is associated or connected to the types of foods we eat or crave at the end of the day? What if our assumed or accepted diet was in fact not our true diet, but rather a diet shaped by foods that we deem necessary to get by, to manage or relieve ourselves temporarily away from the tension and dissatisfaction levels of the day? What if we began to be more aware of what drives us internally to crave certain foods at certain times – what might we discover?
The reality is that there is absolutely another way to approach and be with foods. However, the above requires first the dedication to appreciate how committed we are in life and in our relationships is what is ultimately reflected to us with our food choices.
It need not be a difficult or arduous relationship, rather a simple and honest appraisal of ourselves in life and how well we are expressing and/or handling all our relationships.
Filed under
Corruption, Relationships, Food industry
