Teaching Yourself Self-Respect with Cooking

How do you feed yourself? 

The answer is, of course, more than just “I use a fork.” There are many things we do throughout the day that reflect the level of respect we have for ourselves and eating is one of them. Consuming nutrient-rich foods that fuel the body and maintain energy is one of the most important and most intimate things we do to stay alive and so many people completely disrespect themselves with sloppy eating habits and unhealthy food. 

When we’re living a single lifestyle it’s common to eat right out of the cooking pot or exist solely on fast food or delivery. It’s a time saver and we’re all so very conscious of how little time we have. But would you force guests to your home to eat out of the cooking pot? No, you’d serve them food on a plate with silverware and a napkin. You should treat yourself with the same respect (or more) as you do guests in your home. It reflects your state of mind.

Taking the time to mindfully prepare a wholesome meal gives a tremendous boost to your self-esteem and your overall health. It doesn’t have to be gourmet cooking or expensive ingredients. Just take the time to prepare your food, serve it to yourself, and eat it knowing that you’re not just cramming stuff into your face so you can get to the next thing. You’re nourishing your body and fueling your life. 

Those of us struggling with addiction are in the habit of disrespecting ourselves on a daily basis and as we make our way through recovery, it’s important to develop new practices that promote a healthier sense of self-respect. Take the time to get to know your food. Where does it come from? How does it nourish you? You don’t have to become a nutrition specialist or chef, you just have to develop a more intimate relationship with what keeps you going. That’s how you learn to treat yourself with more respect.