When shopping for food, visit organic produce markets. Just like us, fruit and vegetables do not come perfectly shaped all the time. Due to our demands for perfection we are willing to eat produce that has been waxed shiny, toxin-ed bug free, and genetically modified to suit our demands. We have become more distant from nature and have lost the ability to really enjoy the food that we eat.

Make your food shopping a sensual experience! Pick up fruit and vegetables. Feel the differences in size and weight, gently squeeze to feel for ripeness, breathe in the scents of spices, herbs, and fresh fruit. Can you distinguish between coriander and cumin? How about a mango and a banana; or a black versus a green olive? Take your time choosing what you want. Treat this like you would any other shopping that you enjoy. Be a voyeur and get some visual stimulation! Look at the colours, the different shades, the curves and the presentation of the food. Imagine what you might look like wearing what you are drawn to. Do you think it suits you? Make choices to dress yourself from the inside out. Have pride in your dress sense!

When preparing food, take a moment to observe the sounds, the flavours, the textures and the colours that  your ingredients produce . Notice how the food changes with different cooking methods. For example, a  broccoli flower is much more vibrant in colour and firmer in texture when steamed than when boiled.  Listen to the sound of crisp lettuce leaves being torn to make a salad. Breath in the aroma of fresh ginger and parsley as you cut into them. Feel the texture of your meat stock  alter gradually, as you stir in some corn starch.

Food is something to be enjoyed from the shopping of it through to the preparation, and right through to the climax of savouring  it. Aaah! That ‘afterglow’ of a well executed repas. Meals should not be rushed, forced or feared. You need to be present with every mouthful. You should leave the table knowing you are completely satisfied but feeling that you did not gorge yourself.