How Sensual is Your Food?

Who says food or sex should be flat and lifeless?

That they can't be full of passion?

I believe this is why Latin cultures are known for being more sensuous and vibrant, from their food to their love lives.

It may feel icky to you to have even read that.

That's ok (This will stay PG-13).

It's a great thing to feel pleasure in life.

Pleasure is the heartbeat of relationships- if it didn't feel good to us, on some level, we would opt out.

Conversely, if you've experienced bought of depression, I feel you- I’ve been there too to know that everything feels grey and flat line.

But think about the people you enjoy being around.

The men you're attracted to.
The experiences in life you remember fondly.
They all gave you a sense of pleasure.
You know, the moments we refer to as "when time stood still"
In fact, the more pleasurable the experience, the more likely it stands out in your memory.
And you probably were able to experience them with multiple senses.
This is a really good thing!
I believe we, as humans, are natural pleasure seekers.
This is why we over indulge in food, drink, and other activities that if done for an extended amount of time can cause damage, but are meant to provide bits of pleasure to our lives.

The term "sensual" doesn't have to have sexual connotation to it.

It may sound taboo but sensual or sensuous eating is simply eating with all your senses.
Like anything in the "mindfulness" domain, the practice is to slow down enough to experience something in a new, more robust way.
The same concept can be applied to food.

I believe eating goes beyond just taste, it requires all 5 senses to be thoroughly enjoyed.
When your food comes, you see it, it may look very appealing or it may not.
It may have sounds when you're eating or you notice the texture as you chew.
You touch the food with your fingers and notice if it is hot or cold.
You smell the food when you catch the aroma and, because taste is directly tied to smell, you need to smell it to be able to use your taste senses.
You see, you have never actually just eaten something.
You may not have paid attention to all these things, but you've already been doing some of these so it can be easy to learn!

Biologically, we are programmed to seek food because we are either hungry or because it's pleasurable.
Think of the last thing you ate.
Did you reach for it because you were physically hungry or because you really like it?
Most humans actually eat the same foods or combination of foods over and over again.
There's way less variety than we think, but that doesn't mean it needs to be boring.
Food can be adventurous too.
Imagine the last time you had a cultural cuisine.
What did you think of the way THEY prepared chicken?
Did it taste different?
 

Want to create your own romance?

Next time you eat, sit at the kitchen table with your feet on the floor.
Soften your shoulders, jaw, and belly to release tension and allow space for experiencing nourishment.
Assess your emotional state, is there anything that needs your attention?
When you’re connected to your emotional state and feel calm, assess your physical hunger on a scale from 1-10
Look at your food, smell it, notice your mouth starting to water
Express gratitude for the food and the process it took to get to you.
Pick up your fork, study it, feel how heavy it is and any sensations it brings up in you
Take a bite, study the flavor of this bite, what is the texture, the taste- is it sweet or salty or sour? Does it bring up any memories for me? 
Chew 5 more times than you normally would before you swallow
Envision the nutrients reaching every cell and filling you with energy and vibrancy.

I speak with people all the time that report low levels of pleasure from their food.
It's strictly practicality that they're eating the foods they are and hoping to lose weight.
I feel curious about the connection between actually enjoying what we're eating and listening to our natural hunger cues.

How can you sprinkle passion and add a pinch of spiciness to your food and life like you would salt and pepper to your meal?

It may not mean dancing on the table (but it could ;) ) but you could turn on some music while you cook or eat.

You could make a new dish or buy a new option next time you're at the grocery.

 
Leave a comment below and let me know what you find- Do you eat less when you let your sensuality come out at the dinner table? ;)