Energy Guidance Complete

Eating at its best—Food 20/20

The existing graphic presentations of balanced eating—the food pyramid, the healthy eating plate, MyPlate, Canada’s food guide, the Eatwell guide—are helpful, but they focus only on the foods.

Balanced eating requires more than consuming foods in nutritious percentages.

Food 20/20 is eating that is elevated and satisfying. Nourishment is more than consuming foods that supply nutrients to the body. Nourishment includes intention and atmosphere. Nourishment of the body nourishes the soul when the intention is appreciative of the food and the atmosphere is uplifting.

Let’s look closely at Food 20/20 to understand it.

Moderation. Moderation comes above all parts of Food 20/20, because moderation is needed in consumption and in intention. Foods eaten in moderate amounts nourish properly.

Appreciation (violet). Appreciation, without excessive fixation on being appreciative, helps food be spiritually nourishing.

Uplifting eating environment (indigo). The atmosphere in which food is eaten influences physical, emotional, and spiritual growth. When food is consumed in the company of others, in a relaxed pace, and without stress, the food is received by the body optimally.

The Blue group: Water and liquids. Water is the basic external requirement that we need in order to live. It is the food group that cannot be skipped. Nourishing liquids, besides water, that provide vitality are good. Liquids that contain substances such as caffeine, sweeteners (natural or synthetic), and colorings, are wizening.

The Green group: Vegetables-Whole grains-Nuts and seeds-Legumes. These foods form the basis of substances that are satisfying and balancing.

The Yellow group: Eggs-Meat-Dairy-Seafood. These foods require additional appreciation towards the lives that produce them. When eaten, they supply nourishment and satisfaction; however, they are less balancing than the Green group. The Yellow group appears with a dashed, gray line, because of ethical and sustainability concerns.

The Orange group: Fruit. Sweetness is best eaten slowly and savoringly. Fruit contains nutritious elements and unbalancing aspects. The sweetness can be unbalancing and requires balance from the Green group.

The Red group: Herbs-Flavors-Oils-Spices. These foods are best eaten in small amounts. They add tastiness and tweaked accessibility to the main groups of foods. Flavors include sweeteners such as date syrup, maple syrup, stevia, and honey. This group is meant to enhance food and not detract from food’s nutritious role. This group does not include eye-catching additives that harm health.

Food 20/20 presents the importance of non-food aspects of eating. These aspects are enclosed by dotted lines to indicate their intangibility. Appreciation is emphasized with a double oval, because of its effects on health.

The food groups decrease in size to indicate the amounts to be eaten. The foods in the Green group: Vegetables-Whole grains-Nuts and seeds-Legumes are meant to be eaten as the main elements of a healthful diet. The other groups are meant to be eaten in smaller and smaller amounts.

Following Food 20/20 opens the body to elevated health, relaxed malady responses, and fulfilling dining experiences!

Note: Food 20/20 was given to me by Spirit!