Food Journeys is a monthly podcast produced by Lionel Church which explores the question "Why do we eat what we eat?"
www.foodjourneys.net
While many people are trying new ways of eating or going back to more traditional diets, fascinating food stories are emerging. From a place of curiosity and open-mindedness, what can we learn from one another's food journeys?
I will never forget the time when Food Journeys really came alive for me. I was sitting at the dining room table with my dear friend and housemate, and I knew she was less than a few weeks away from receiving surgery to help her loose weight. Ever since I had heard she would be receiving the surgery I felt this deep sadness and I wished I could make her see a different approach. I was aware of how upset I was for weeks, so I chose to say nothing. But that night at the dining table I felt the urge to connect with her, yet I could think of nothing kind to say. After a long internal silence, I felt a subtle inspiration and simply asked, "I know you're going in for the surgery soon. How is that whole process going for you?" It was incredible how relieved I felt as she began to tell me about her whole personal thought process leading up to the surgery. I asked more questions, and I learned that for her whole life she had tried many different diets, including raw and vegan, and had not ever successfully lost weight long-term. She told me how she discovered the surgery and how good she felt about the doctor's care and of the support group built into the program. As I listened, my compassion grew for my dear friend and the journey she took to get to her decision. In that conversation I never did tell her my mind about my deep concern about the surgery or suggest any alternative strategies she could take, but by the end of the conversation I no longer felt that sad urgent need to. In the months following that conversation I felt a new mutual respect in our relationship as housemates, and I noticed how much respect she gave me around my unusual eating choices. There seemed to be an undercurrent of myrthful laughter about our completely different Food Journeys whenever we would eat together. I felt so comfortable asking further questions about why she was eating what she was eating, and she asked me questions about why I was eating what I was eating. What I learned from this remarkable experience is that one of the best ways to create an environment where my own food choices are respected is to become curious about the food journeys of my companions. Now I am sharing the curiosity with a larger audience so that we may all become more tolerant and respectful of one another's food journeys.
Find the podcast on iTunes with this link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/food-journeys-episodes/id806736934
Listen to the episodes online at www.foodjourneys.net
What is Food Journeys agenda for the people it touches?
To feel empowered about our food choices.
To accelerate the acceptance of innovative eating strategies.
To spread awareness of the ecological impact of our food choices.
To increase knowledge about food health outcomes.
To eliminate judgement about what everyone else eats.
To unify all those who are on a conscious food journey.
