Tulyata

There is a lot said and done about eating in our world today. There are any number of diets, expert opinions, appetite modifying medications and recipes on the internet that float our way via algorithms and previously visited sources of content. I’m not contesting a single one of those internet sensations.

Like the vast majority of people, I myself am wondering about what the best way to eat is. One goal I would desperately want to achieve would be to get healthier so my body is able to do all the things I want in the near future as well as help me age gracefully.

Aging gracefully to me is to be able to rely on my body, mind and emotions to help me live happily till the day I die. This might seem like a lofty goal if we keep sight of how most of our seniors today live. We see deterioration in mental capabilities, psychological and emotional insecurity, reduced ability to engage in physical activities and, a lot of times, dependency on others to get through our daily chores.

Emotionally, we are all interdependent and we need each other to thrive, no matter what age we are at. But physically, the more independent we are, the better the quality of our life. So my argument is, we need to develop the kind of eating habits that will aid us be physically strong and competent in our later years.

To that end, eating and consuming nutrients today should, if at all possible, help us stay healthy and strong throughout our lives.

I’ve tried intermittent fasting, eating less, following Rujuta Diwekar’s advice, eating only vegetarian salads for lunch or dinner, and portion control. I’ve tried upping protein intake and sort of going on Keto (my lunch options close to work in NYC with vegetarian options were Keto bowls.) And then my mental health took a dive so I tried to eat anything and everything that appealed to me in the hopes that I would get a reprieve from the constant whirling of thoughts and overthinking. At that time, I could barely taste what I was eating so it made sense to me to try and eat to help my brain recover.

After all that, many doctor visits and medication adjustments later, I’m ready to take charge of my health again. This is a huge win and a momentous turn of events for me. And the one thing I’m doing is, I’m keeping track of what I’m eating, what I’m thinking before I eat, and most importantly, how I feel after I eat.

How does it feel?

I’m still trying this out, so there’s a lot to unpack here as I explore how different types of meals make feel immediately after, an hour after and a couple of hours after I eat. At the very least, I feel engaged with food beyond just consuming it. The more prolong the engagement with food, the easier it is for me, at the moment at least, to dial back random cravings throughout the day. My digestion is also improving, which is helping me eat better. My hunger cues are easier to identify because there is lesser noise from acidity and heartburn. As I eat to feel better, the urgency of my cravings is receding and I sometimes feel like I want to eat certain dishes and I go ahead and eat the healthiest version of them that I can find.

What are you thinking?

I think this approach is working for me right now because it’s helping me be mindful of my intake and also to prioritise my understanding of how the different parts of me work together to create the experience of eating. I’m eating 3-4 times a day including snacks, feeling a bit better and looking forward to eating so I feel comfortable even 30 minutes post lunch.

Are you also on a journey to a healthier you? Let me know what has worked for you in the comments.

Until next time, take good care of yourself.