Hemingway - Mariels Kitchen

M y kitchen is the heart of my home. It is where my day begins and where my day ends. Its where I can feel the pulse of my world. Every person, and every animal, in my family passes through the kitchen at some point, and they show what they need without any pretense. Theres something about the primal activity that happens in the kitchenthat very necessary feeding of body and brainthat makes people, and small dogs, very honest.

First thing, last thing, and throughout the day when Im home, my kitchen is also where I check in with myself. Food is the centering point; its the foundation from which everything elseproductivity, creativity, loving, and evolvingcan start.

Not long ago, I had the experience of befriending a new kitchen. Medium-sized, unpretentious, and instantly welcoming, my kitchen quickly became the heart of my new home. The floor is lined in fat clay tiles that stay cool under bare feet. The counter space is modest, so I keep it clutter free. I furnished it simply with a big farmhouse table and one cozy armchair; daughters and friends have somewhere to sit while I tear pale lettuce leaves or mix dough with my hands. Its the opposite of a perfect, designer kitchen; those rooms leave me cold. Theres little appeal in marble surfaces never splashed with yellow olive oil, or state-of-the-art sinks never graced by blackened pans. A kitchen only comes alive when its used.

The feeling in my kitchen is a reflection of my food: easy and comfortable; integrated into a busy life. I appreciate the gourmet chefs of the world, but part of what makes food satisfying for me is simplicity. A piece of fish with a fresh veggie salsa requires just minutes of dicing. Fresh herbs, mixed in unusual combinations like cumin and mint, are enough to excite my senses. Shaking a bottle of my own freshly made dressing, as rich as store bought but infinitely more lively, never fails to give me a smile.

This simplicity around food is also designed by necessity. Of all the things I do to stay happy and balanced, healthy eating gets top priority. To happen three times a day, its got to be streamlined. This news surprises some, who know my passion for yoga, exercise, and spiritual practice. Surely, they think, those things are more sacred than what I have for lunch? But none of them can happen without the energy and clarity that comes from eating well. And as Ive found over and over, food is the first teacher of all the qualities these other practices developawareness, acceptance, gratitude, and grace. Wake up to what you put in your body, notice how your food or drink feels, how it heals or hurts, and you will inevitably wake up to your whole life.

It took a few decades to come to this understanding, but now my definition of healthy eating comes more from common-sense wisdom than the encyclopedic knowledge of nutrition stored in my mind. When we prepare food fresh and eat it slowly, we know when we are full and we get more nourishment from it. Physically and emotionally, in our cells and our spirits, were happier and more satisfied. Bad habits around foodeating too much, too little, or mindlessly grazing all day longbegin to fall away.

For me, food is medicine at a deep level. It has profound power in every aspect of our lives, shaping who we are, how we feel physically, how we connect with others, and whether or not we are productive and present. We tend to underestimate just how much food can change our state. Yet we all agree that popping an Advil makes a headache or body pain go away in twenty minutes. So why wouldnt processed food, fake fats, and chemically-sweetened diet drinks dramatically alter our mood and sense of well-being as quickly as that Advil did? And why wouldnt vital fresh foods make an equally strong impact to the positive? Foods are our building blocks and our chemistry makers; we literally are what we eat. Consume food that is fresh, clean, full of color, vitality and energy, and you become energetic, vibrant, colorful, and clean in your whole being. Your life mirrors your fuel. And doing this has a bigger impact still: you are inspired to make changes throughout your life when changes around eating prove so simple.