The idea food is needed for more than physical wellbeing and survival, but how we eat is vital to our overall well-being resonated with me, as it is significant in our everyday lives. Blackmores suggests if you eat better, exercise more, connect with friends regularly, you will live a better, healthier life.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs suggests satisfying physiological needs first, leads to improvements in higher level needs. But what does it mean to eat ‘better’ as Blackmores states?
Recently I noticed I lacked the energy to ‘get shit done,’ resulting in less time to pursue what I enjoy. I concluded this is not due to what I am eating but how I am eating. Although we lead busy lives, and going several hours without food seems common, if we are not energized, time spent working becomes less productive. Eating not only ‘well’ but also regularly is equally important.
Growing up, I remember what it was like having to go to school without breakfast or lunch and being punished for dozing off or sharing friend’s food. The phrase ‘food for thought’ takes a new meaning in this context, if we are not physically sustained, how can we focus on what we are learning? I consider myself lucky to have been minimally affected by food insecurity, and it disgusts me that so many are denied of this essential human right. We need food not only to survive but to thrive.
By consuming three meals daily, I was able to fulfill needs I had neglected causing me to feel withdrawn and dissatisfied. Rebekah Graham suggests that “How we eat meals and who we eat with is important to a sense of self and fosters social connection.” Taking breaks to eat with friends fosters both my physical and social needs.
Whether it be exercise, or connecting with friends as Blackmore’s suggests, sustenance to stimulate our needs is vital to overall wellbeing.
References:
(Rebekah Grant 2017. Cakes, community meals, and charity: Responses to for insecurity. Kai and Culture: Food stories from Aotearoa.)
I found this post a really interesting read! It’s so important to look into the duality of food’s purpose in society as both a physiological and a higher level need to maintain our wellbeing. I think a lot of the points you have made can also provide insight into the link between our mental health and spiritual wellbeing with a proper and nutritious diet. Using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it is clear to see that benefits such as food security and having the capacity to eat at least 3 meals a day is a foundation to allowing people to reach higher levels of self-actualisation and esteem – without such it can take a significant toll on their psychology. Like you said, ‘we need food not only to survive but to thrive’.