Vitamin L

On Saturdays, I like to sit on this sunny sidewalk curb, eating this quiche, made by Robin who owns this pie cart,  at this open-air market in my community.  Robin knows my name and always has a warm greeting for me - and all of her customers.  She remembers our favorite flavors.  This isn't just food.  It is true nourishment.

Food should nourish us, body and soul.  But the nourishment isn't just in the food, it is also in the who, where, and when.  Because Robin knows the people she is feeding, here in her community, she adds a lot of vitamin L.  Love. 

As we are constantly bombarded with often conflicting information about individual nutrients, we may be more successful in reaching our health goals if, even for a little while, we only focus on vitamin L.   Foods that are high in vitamin L are those that are prepared for you by someone who loves you, prepared by you for someone you love, prepared for yourself as an act of self-love, grown in a space that you love, and shared with a community you love.

Foods that have low or no vitamin L, are those that are prepared in a factory, those that sit on shelves for weeks or months, and those that are prepared in conditions that lack love - or worse yet - are full of inhumanity. 

Of course it is easier to find foods high in vitamin L in your own kitchen, or the kitchen of someone you love.  Restaurants are notorious for foods lacking in vitamin L, because the food preparation happens by someone who doesn't know you, or has never even seen you.  And often those working removed from the customers, but preparing the food, are not working in conditions that foster love -
but rather in stressful, fast-paced, and demanding conditions.  How could this food truly nourish you?

Don't get me wrong, I eat in restaurants all the time.  Primarily, it is driven by convenience.  But I'm always aware that I'm not getting my vitamin L and I try to make up for it where and when I can.  When I prioritize vitamin L, although it takes more time, I feel better.  I have more energy, I sleep better,  I'm a better friend and I have more love to give back to the world.

So, let me challenge you - maybe for a week, or two - don't read any articles about healthy and unhealthy food.  Think only about vitamin L in your food.  Please let me know what you find!  I would love to hear about your experiences with this endeavor too - you can comment here on this post, or email me at spiritofholly@gmail.com.

Be well!  I love you :)