On a recent Joyful Eating Group Coaching call, this practice commitment was offered:
Sit still for 2 minutes just prior to eating and for 2 minutes immediately after eating one’s meal. Notice what happens.
In my experience, this exercise throws a “stick into the spokes” of the wheel of egocentrickarmicconditioning/self-hate. This practice revealed many karmic beliefs, stories, and tendencies I have around eating. (Apparently, I was heavily conditioned not to let my food get cold.) In those 2 minutes prior to eating, I experienced the beauty and aroma of the food in a way I never had before. It was subtle and lovely. In the 2 minutes of stillness following eating, I was able to really tune into the body's reaction to the food I'd just given it. So much to see and receive! I highly recommend this practice as a way to expose ego’s nattering around food and to slip softly into the joy of the moment before and after eating.
Here is a long-time favorite recipe around the Monastery. Hope you enjoy it too!
Gassho,
Rebecca
Mjeddrah
2 large onions, coarsely chopped
¾ cup rice, uncooked
1½ cup lentils (uncooked), rinsed
4 cups water
1½ tsp salt
Cook onions in a little olive oil so they start to caramelize. Add rice and lentils and cook for a few minutes before adding water. Add water, bring to a simmer, then cover and cook 40 – 50 minutes, until the rice and lentils are tender. Add salt.
Mjeddrah Salad (to be served on the side of Mjeddrah)
2 large tomatoes
1 cucumber
3 green onions
1 red bell pepper
1 stalk celery
2 avocados
Dice all ingredients. Toss with Lemon-Thyme Dressing or serve dressing on the side.
Serves 8
Lemon-Thyme Dressing
1 tsp olive oil
1½ tsp lemon peel, grated
¼ cup lemon juice
1 clove garlic
1¼ tsp honey
¾ tsp dried thyme leaves
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ cup parsley, finely chopped
Makes about ½ cup