Are What You Eat

“You are what you eat” is mostly literal. Our bodies regenerate every seven to ten years. When I started yoga, my diet had mostly descended to what I called “the triumvirate of happiness”. If completely literal, I would have become the love child of a mango juice, white magnum ice-cream, and a microwave Tikka Chicken Masala curry from the local Little Sainsbury’s by the Lower Richmond Rd petrol station. I was living by myself and this was my default “because you are working hard” treat to myself. 

When I got into the habit of going straight from work to yoga, my diet also improved because I would have some yogi soup after the class. The magnum ice cream was replaced with an oat cookie, and the juice with some tea. Learning to cook is not unlike learning a language, and often needs someone to show you. You can get CEOs who don’t know how to fry an egg, because they have never prioritised being competent at life. Either because they were well supported, or they allowed their body to fall apart. It is not unusual for someone not to know how to make mash potatoes, or even have tried various vegetables. 

Our palates change over time. There are tricks to expand your repertoire. If you are trying to shift towards a more plant-based diet, you need to learn the vocabulary of eating more widely. As a South African, I come from a big meat-eating culture. I have also got a weird, quirky relationship with fruit. Particularly messy fruit. Something odd from my childhood (my excuse) gives me obstacles with regards to the textures, smells, and spray. You can get over that, I am told. I try with smoothies, which I enjoy and make occasional more direct attempts. 

I did discover soups as a similarly fantastic indirect middle-of-English-winter diet shifter. I got a Ninja Blender which both blends and cooks. You can put stock with any vegetable and have great soup half an hour later. The more you learn the components of cooking, the easier it is to solve both the health and the taste issues with joy, which boosts energy levels much more than the kick of my three yummies.

convenience