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Giving Thanks for Your Food

Food is an essential part of our lives. It’s what keeps us going. But do we give thanks for our food?

What do you look forward to after a tiring day at work? What perks you up instantly when your mood is low? What is the most vital part traveling or an enjoyable outing? The answer to all of them is food.

Food is the fuel for the human body and we have a lot to be grateful for when a meal is placed before us. When I think about what that morsel of food does when it gets into my body and how it acts to keep me running and fit, I say a mental word of thanks before I start my delicious meal.

There are so many ways you can show your gratitude for this savior of life:

Form of God

If you believe in a Supreme Being, this source of life should be worshipped. From time immemorial, religions follow the practice of thanking God for the food before eating the first morsel, and not wasting food as it would mean dishonoring it.

Do not waste

Knowing how crucial food is, we have a moral obligation towards it. With over one billion people in the world starving, wasting food is a shame. One way of showing our gratitude is by cutting down on waste. Remind yourself how valuable food is. We take food for granted but if we stop to think about the millions who do not have even one square meal a day, we should go down on our knees and be thankful for the abundance we are blessed with. Attempt ways to reduce wastage of food. Have smaller servings. If you have to cook a lot, plan a menu that can be carried over. If not, stick to cooking smaller portions.

Respect the source

It is after a colossal amount of effort, labor and toil that the food finally arrives at your dining table. Be thankful to the farmers who have sowed, cultivated, harvested and processed the food. Be grateful that they have chosen physical labor over white-collared jobs, to supply you with food that helps you do your work. As the Assyrian proverb goes, “The rich would have to eat money if the poor did not provide food.”

Give food its due

Presenting food in an organized manner is a form of showing respect and giving food its due. When you present food attractively, it will naturally be appreciated more. Set the table elegantly, make the dishes colorful and serve with love. Watch in delight and gratitude as every morsel is savored and finished.

Our very existence revolves around food. Festivals, functions, events…food is a quintessential part of any celebration. Let’s give thanks for our food.