“More Matters;” “Fill Half Your Plate;” “Go for Color.”

Phrases like these, developed and disseminated by public health advocates, have become the rhetoric in nutritional guidance surrounding the consumption of fruits and vegetables—and for good reason!

With the arrival of gardens and farmers markets, what’s more appropriate than making a delicious, scrumptious, veggie-filled recipe?

Last August I traveled to Whistler, British Columbia, to speak at Wanderlust—a festival that aims to “create a community around mindful living.” By focusing on diverse experiences like practicing yoga, eating well, being green, practicing purpose, creating awareness, and showcasing art, the event allows participants to deepen their mindfulness practice and enhance their approach to healthy living.  

Apricots, avocados, berries and tomatoes! Summer is a season of rich colors and juicy bites: mother earth’s invitation to savor.

Seize this opportunity to walk warmth and refreshing summer rain. Inhale the sweet smells of pollen, flowers, herbs, and ripe fruit. Treat yourself to the farmers market and take your time. Peruse each stall that interests you and inspect the items you choose with care.

I invited a dear friend of mine, Susan Guillory, to contribute a blog on mindful eating. Susan is a mover and shaker in the whole foods movement. In the 1970s, she co-founded Bread & Circus, a whole foods market chain in the Boston area with her former husband, Anthony Harnett. The Bread & Circus stores were later acquired by Whole Foods. In conjunction with the stores Susan taught healthy cooking for 22 years.

Lilian

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I'm glad to share this letter I received from a “Savor  Aficionado” expressing her gratitude for our book.  She reads Savor regularly as a resource and support for her mindful eating and daily meditation practices.       

- Lilian

I’ve been meditating and practicing mindful eating regularly for the last 10-15 years and am still amazed at the power of mindfulness to free me from unhealthy behaviors.

In Savor, Thich Nhat Hanh and I advise that people eat more mindfully in order to control their weight, (and achieve other health benefits). When we eat mindfully, we become more aware of our feelings, thoughts, physical sensations, and what’s going on around us. We notice how our surroundings affect the way we eat and move.