One of the reasons I am so passionate about food is that it’s a subject with a seemingly infinite number of angles to observe it from. What is food? Sustenance, obviously. But more personally, it’s taste, emotion, history, culture, community, communication, and health (or disease). It’s political. It’s ethical. It’s economic. It’s globalization and it’s anti-globalization. It’s a means to an end, and it’s an end in itself.

Both the vast complexity of food and its inherent simplicity become apparent to me whenever I take a moment to just be present with it. This evening we had a potluck dinner and before we ate, someone recited a quote that for me, set the tone for the meal.

This food is the gift of the whole universe – the earth, the sky, and much hard work. May we live in a way that is worthy of this food. May we transform our unskillful states of mind, especially that of greed. May we eat only foods that nourish us and prevent illness. May we accept this food for the realization of the way of understanding and love.

- Thich Nhat Hanh

I’ve written before about presence with food, but I felt that this quote really encapsulates how a big issue like food manifests in the present moment – the moment at which we eat. Sitting around a candlelit table, amongst friends and an abundance of lovingly prepared dishes, I enjoyed the opportunity to take pause and give thanks for all that I have.

What insights does your dinner table bring?