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CREATING HARMONY AROUND YOUR DINNER TABLE TONIGHT

December 14, 2008

I love being a Mom and truly believe for some of us it is a Spiritual Calling. For as long as I can remember, all I have ever wanted was to have a family. I always knew with certainty that I would have children, nurse them, and devote myself to consciously raising them. When you live in that clear an intention, the Universe conspires to support you no matter what…A la THE SECRET. Becoming a mother is a Course in Miracles, and feeding my family is a sacred task. This is why I have embraced the Living Foods lifestyle. Everything about it is in harmony with the pure vibration of a child’s potential. I seek only to develop and harness that potential and do nothing to diminish it. And so, I have converted my family over to Raw. It has been so exciting, yet not without its challenges.

My husband comes from a strong, well-meaning Italian family; meat, pasta, bread and cheese dominate every family celebration. Being RAW is tricky- you learn to plan ahead. I fill us up with Green Smoothies; bring the salads, fruit platters and raw desserts. Then I let go and enjoy the celebration! Tomorrow is another day- we all cleanse. Being flexible and adaptable is a sign of good mental health. For me, family is paramount, and true, overall health is about more than our diet. Especially in social situations with family I have learned that being rigid is more stressful than allowing occasional compromises, especially when it comes to the kids! However, I draw the line at junk food, pop, candy, anything fried or packaged.

HARMONY IS HEALTHY AND PLEASURABLE

I have learned the hard way that an over emphasis on food can mar the entire experience and though I am Raw and convinced it is the best way to go, I am more apt to attract people to the benefits if I walk my own path in harmony with others. I feel that this food and lifestyle is a very gentle and loving experience for ALL! But I don’t push it.

Having travelled the world, I was always touched by the loving (not stressful) relationship other cultures had to their food. Be it Asia, South America, Australia or Europe, the focus was never on calories or health per se. The central theme seemed to be about PLEASURE. Everything about food brought enjoyment; from the beautiful way food is displayed in local markets, artfully prepared and gracefully served and shared- everywhere there was beauty and delight.

This is vastly in contrast to our typical Western model of diets, deprivation, binging and guilt. We have lost our natural, wholesome relationship to food every bit as much as we have lost these same qualities in our food. HOW we eat, our state of being, is as important as WHAT we eat, raw or otherwise.When we eat on the run, while driving, watching TV or reading the news, microwave our meals, eat out of plastic containers, while standing up…Where is the sanctity, or nourishment in that?

WHAT’S EATING YOU?

Sadder still is how everyone here is on a diet- even pre-teens! All the dieting in the world won’t guarantee physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. And no matter how much we binge we still remain hungry and empty on some level.

Even raw foodists experience this initially until the internal shift catches up to the external one. So it is not only about what you are eating, but ‘what is eating you’.

Like passionate lovers sensually experiencing each other, is how we may re-learn to engage with our food. Eating our food this way with our senses fully open and awake will we be truly nurtured and fed. Beautiful, Raw food liberates such subtle but powerful distinctions and revelations. When I fully understood the damage of ‘shoulding’ on my family over food I determined that I needed to find ways of bringing harmony. I have been creating rituals to re-establish a more balanced, peaceful and ‘irresistible’ connection with our food. I share some of them with you:

RITUALS THAT BRING SANCTUARY IN THE HOME

*I start off by just slowing down, my movements, my thoughts, and my pace, centering myself and gaining emotional poise.

*I take the time to think about ways I might create or add to the atmosphere a feeling of excitement, or calm, or fun.

*When preparing a meal for myself or the family I light a little candle just for ME.

*I put on some classical music to enjoy, or I sing, chant or pray. I believe this puts my love into the food which is the most important ingredient (remember ‘BABETTES’S FEAST’ and ‘LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE’)

*Then I do what my husband’s mother does- I "set a beautiful table!" with fresh or wild flowers, or create a centerpiece of gold and crimson leaves, or pine cones, berries and acorns, or sea shells and crystals- something lovely to reflect the season, usually gathered by my children on a Nature’s walk.

*I use the ‘good dishes’ and beautiful, simple but cared-for linens.

*Clearing away remnants of work, mail, etc. I am now ready to ring the dinner bell.

*After hands are washed and everyone is assembled, Luke lights the dinner candle.

*We all hold hands and sing the blessing. (I love to take this moment to see the light in my family’s eyes) Then the feast begins!

I encourage my little tigers to take their time and really savour every bite, and to be thankful. I really do believe the woman sets the tone in the home, and my husband holds the space for us all. He models good habits by putting his fork down between bites, chewing thoroughly, even closing his eyes and letting out little "Ahhhhh"s and "Mmmmm"s. He even declares enthusiastically "Mama sure is the best chef in town!" To which my sons usually chime in "She sure is!" Having support makes mealtimes an experience of bonding, laughter, storytelling and true sustenance.

I keep it really simple throughout the day by serving light fare:

Green smoothies and juices, fresh fruit, crudités with raw dips or pate, guacamole with olives and dehydrated flax crackers, seaweed and veggie salads, or raw soup.

Dinner is a little more elaborate- maybe a main meal salad made from kale, dandelion, parsley and arugala with okra, tomatoes, onion, olives, avocado and hempseeds topped off with a miso- ginger dressing; Or perhaps a raw gourmet dish of zucchini pasta with stuffed pesto mushrooms and lemon-raspberry ‘un’cheescake; or wild rice ‘un’stir-fry with garlic-ginger marinade. If it is Friday, it could be a homemade lentil stew, or curried cauliflower quinoa, or millet-veggie patties with tahini, or a brown rice gluten-free pasta with steamed rapini and garlic…

Whatever I serve it will be of the freshest, organic (when possible) ingredients prepared and served with love, and eaten with gratitude! Having a loving and healthy family is the pinnacle of success for me! BLISSINGS!

SHANNON LEONE is a Mom, Artist, Writer and WELLNESS COACH with 20 years experience in Self-Health whose background includes: Assistant Fitness Director of the Parkview Club, Licensed Aestitician and Colon Hydro Therapist, Raw Gourmet Foodie, Director of THE LITTLE FRIENDS FOUNDATION, Creator of THE FRIENDSHIP FLAG GAME, and Filmmaker RAISING CHILDREN RAISES US- a DVD on Conscious Parenting. Shannon has appeared on TV’s Woman to Woman, Daytime, Body Mind Spirit, International Radio and many Magazines.

For personal or group Coaching and Seminars: 1-866-LEONE-11; sjkleone@yahoo.com