Who isn’t busy these days? It seems like we’re constantly hearing people have less and less time to cook, let alone sit down and eat. With endless fast food choices readily available, eating has become a ritual on the go. Combine this with gadgets, screens, and packed schedules, and it’s easy to see why we have become very distracted eaters. We eat while typing, talking, driving, looking at our phones, reading, or watching TV. It may feel like we are being efficient by doing many things at the same time, but this can have a very negative impact on the body and mind. Personally, I have been making conscious effort to not schedule meetings during lunch times. 

The food we eat affects our energy (the physical state) and emotions (the state of mind). It can be said that what we eat is who we become. Have you ever cooked or eaten food when you were upset with someone? How did that feel? How did it taste? We say mom’s food is the best because she prepares it with love, but if she is distracted or fusses over the family while cooking, odds are dinner will reflect this.

Food matters are very deep. Everybody who is in the food chain will impact the quality of food we consume. From the farmer, to the retailer, to the provider, to the cook, and to the consumer of the food, entire food chain has an impact on the quality of the food.

Because food has such an impact on our well-being, meal time is an important investment. As a best practice, during meal time, our thoughts and consciousness should be focused on the benefits food brings to ourselves and anyone we are serving. By focusing on the positive energy good food brings, you’re more likely to eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is even recommended that we prepare and eat food in silence whenever practical, to receive the maximum benefit from our food. You’ll also conserve energy, which will make meal prep less of a chore. This will show up on the happy faces at the dinner table, as well!

By making small changes such as these, you can increase the health and well-being of you and your family one meal at a time.

I want to leave you with a simple, delicious, easy 5-minute recipe. Bon Appétit!

 Vegan Blueberry, Spinach, and Banana Smoothie (serves 2)

•  1 Cup of blueberries (washed)
• 1 Banana
• 1 Cup of spinach or lettuce or any leafy green (prewashed and torn into small pieces). Increase the amount of Greens and reduce Banana to half if you don’t like it too sweet)
• 1 Tablespoon of vegan protein powder (optional- you can also use pumpkin or hemp seeds to increase the amount of protein in this smoothie)
• 1 Tablespoon of almond powder or nut butter
• 1 – 1.5 Cups of coconut milk (we prefer coconut milk in the carton vs. the can)
• 1 Teaspoon lemon juice
• 3 Mint leaves

Preparation: Combine all the above ingredients in a blender and blend till smooth. It should take about 3-4 mins max. Garnish with a Mint sprig and enjoy right after it is freshly prepared. 

Smoothies are a versatile way to get more nutrients in your diet, so make it your own! You can share your smoothie ideas with us by tagging Suji Fresh on social media at #sujifresh.