The Fourth Point: Nourishing Foods

Chapter 7 of Realized Serenity

The Fourth Point: Nourishing Foods

What we eat becomes us. The quality of our food directly influences the quality of our consciousness. This practice is not a restrictive diet, but a conscious and intuitive way of eating that supports a serene life by cultivating a deep awareness of how different foods affect you personally.

Excerpt

What we eat becomes us. The food we consume is the raw material used to build every cell in our body, and it has a direct and powerful impact on the clarity and stability of our mind. The fourth point of our practice is to choose Nourishing Foods, not as a restrictive diet, but as a conscious and intuitive way of eating that supports a serene life.

The philosophy is simple: the quality of our food influences the quality of our consciousness. Some foods leave us feeling heavy, sluggish, and foggy-minded. Others leave us feeling light, clear, and energized. The goal of this practice is to cultivate a deep, honest awareness of how different foods affect you personally, and to consistently choose those that promote a state of calm and clarity.

The Energetic Quality of Food

Imagine all foods exist on a spectrum of energetic quality.

On one end are foods that are calming and clarifying. These are typically fresh, whole, and natural. Think of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. They are easily digestible and provide a steady stream of energy, leaving the mind clear and the body feeling light. These are the foods that form the foundation of a nourishing lifestyle.

On the other end are foods that are agitating or heavy. Agitating foods might include highly processed items, excessive caffeine, or refined sugar, which can create spikes and crashes in energy and leave the mind feeling restless and scattered. Heavy foods might include overly rich, fried, or processed meals that require a huge amount of energy to digest, leaving you feeling lethargic and dull.

The goal is not to create a rigid list of “good” and “bad” foods, but to begin noticing these qualities for yourself. The practice is one of mindful self-inquiry, not dogmatic restriction.

How to Practice Eating Nourishing Foods

This is a practice of awareness, not willpower.

• Eat with Presence: Before you eat, take a moment to breathe and feel gratitude for your food. As you eat, pay attention to the tastes, textures, and smells. Slowing down improves digestion and increases your satisfaction.
• The Post-Meal Check-In: This is the most important part of the practice. About an hour after you eat, pause and notice how you feel. Do you feel energized and clear? Or do you feel tired, bloated, or foggy? This is your body giving you direct feedback.
• Crowd Out, Don’t Cut Out: Instead of focusing on what to eliminate, focus on what to add. Make a small commitment to add one more serving of fresh vegetables to your day, or to swap one processed snack for a piece of fruit. As you add more nourishing foods, your desire for less nourishing ones will often naturally decrease.
• Listen to Your Body’s Wisdom: Your body has an innate intelligence. This practice is about quieting the noise of cravings and external rules so you can hear that wisdom more clearly. It is a compassionate and sustainable approach to eating that honors your unique needs.

By choosing foods that nourish your body and calm your mind, you are making a powerful statement of self-respect. You are creating the biological foundation upon which all your other spiritual practices can flourish.

This Week’s Practice

For one meal each day this week, practice the “Post-Meal Check-In.” About an hour after you finish eating, pause and write down three words in a journal that describe how your body and mind feel. Notice any patterns that emerge by the end of the week.

Going Deeper

• What is the connection for you between certain foods and your emotional state?
• How would your relationship with food change if your primary goal was mental clarity and serenity, rather than weight or appearance?

An Affirmation for the Path

“I choose foods that nourish my body and bring peace to my mind. I listen to my body’s wisdom.”