EATING WELL IN KANSAS CITY - April 2019 
 

5 Ways to Use Food Energetics to Balance Your Body and Your Mind

 

By Angela Watson Robertson

 

Have you ever experienced an afternoon slump at work then felt re-energized from a fresh, green juice? On the other hand- maybe after a long, stressful day you felt comforted by a hearty and warm root vegetable stew. If so, you’ve had direct experience with the nutritional power of food. 
 

Now, suppose I told you that choosing foods for their physical nutritional benefits, although important, is just the beginning toward a life of balance and wellness. Call me crazy, but I’d like you to consider that what you eat can affect you on a spiritual and emotional level as well. 
 

As a health and life transformation coach, my clients are often concerned about food quality. I’m often asked questions like: “should I be eating organic?,” “where do I get high-quality meat and dairy?,” and “how do I get more variety of greens and vegetables into my daily diet?.” These are great questions, but only part of the equation. In my role as a coach, I guide clients toward their own definition of what is beneficial for their body. To do so is an art, as watching what you eat requires conscious, careful observation.
 

Once you begin to exercise your body awareness muscle in connection with the food you put into it, you’ll most likely begin to notice changes in your mental, emotional, and spiritual state. This is where the energetics of food comes into play.
 

Beyond Physical Nutrition 
 

Steve Gagne states in his book, Food Energetics: The Spiritual, Emotional and Nutritional Power of What We Eat, “Food energetics is about true knowledge, the knowledge that foods impart to you when you eat and experience them. Not the information and data of lab analysis or nutrition textbooks, but the core experience of food, no fads and no nonsense.”
 

I can relate to this knowledge and have directly experienced it within my own body, mind, and spirit while experimenting with different foods. I’ve found that the foods I desire, and ultimately choose, depend on my mood, current physical health, environment, culture, values, personality, and reaction to fear(s). In turn, a cycle is created as the foods I choose affect my mood, current physical health, emotional state, and spiritual connection which in turn, affect my food choices in the next moment. 
 

As Steve Gagne goes on to say in his book, “Food affects the quality of your blood, which in turn affects your nervous system, which affects your brain- the organ that manifests thinking and records your reality.” In short, food can affect every aspect of your being. 
 

The Energy of Food
 

According to the theory of food energetics, all types of food have their own energy or vibration and it just takes a little thoughtfulness and attention to see the connection. It helps to look at the food in its’ natural state. 
 

Take carrots for example. They grow into the ground and thus can bring a sense of groundedness into your energy field and your body. I’ve tested this theory on my own body and I realized my body knows this truth already. I’ve noticed that when I’m anxious, I often crave root vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, turnips and carrots, (which grow downward into the Earth) as my body is craving balance, calm and a sense of being grounded. Another example is beans, or legumes. As they have the ability to store for long periods of time (once dried) they can impart a calm, relaxed and balanced energetic quality to the eater. 
 

I’ve seen how incorporating the concept of food energetics into my dietary habits and daily life has enhanced my health and overall well-being. Below, I’ve outlined 5 ways you can use food energetics to balance your body and your mind:
 

5 Ways to Use Food Energetics To Balance Your Body and Your Mind
 

No matter what you eat choose the best quality that you can. Choose natural unprocessed, organic and biodynamic foods.
 

If you can, eat foods you grow yourself.
 

Experiment with a variety of different foods and notice how your body feels afterward. Track your thoughts and sensations in a food diary to learn what foods work for your body.
 

Mix up your dietary regimen often and keep a wide variety of vegetables, proteins, fats and oils in your daily diet.
 

Ensure that most of your diet consists of natural, traditional foods, or foods that are in their natural state. Reduce all “substitute foods” or processed, food-like-substances from your diet (Think, anything with a label).
 

Try the recipe below to help you feel balanced and grounded.

 

Grounding Root Vegetable Stew (Vegetarian + gluten-free)

 

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons grass-fed butter or ghee

2 medium yellow onions (peeled and diced)

4 medium carrots (peeled and sliced 1/2-inch thick)

1 bunch celery (chopped)

2 medium sweet potatoes (peeled and chopped)

1 medium turnip (peeled and chopped)

3 sprigs fresh thyme (chopped leaves)

2 tablespoons curry powder

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1/4 cup almond flour

5 cups vegetable stock

1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves (for garnish)

Greek yogurt (optional for garnish)

lime wedges (for garnish)

kosher salt and black pepper (to taste)
 

In a large pot over medium high heat, add olive oil and butter. Add the onions, carrots, celery, sweet potatoes, turnip, and season with a large pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally until vegetables begin to brown and soften, about 8-10 minutes. Stir in the thyme, curry powder, and tomato paste. Add almond flour, stir in to coat the vegetables. Add the vegetable stock, season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 1 hour, until the vegetables are completely soft. Serve warm with lime juice, cilantro, and greek yogurt.