Did you know that you can sow love into the foods you eat? Soyana, a Swiss company, includes “loving-consciousness” as one of its main principles. Founder, Walter Danzer, encourages all of Soyana’s employees to meditate to achieve this. In the U.S. where mass-produced, highly processed foods are made with a look only to the bottom line, this attitude is revolutionary.  “A meal prepared by a loving mother always tastes better. Today we know that thoughts and feelings are transmitted to the food during preparation and affect the consumer on a subtle level. Therefore the daily practice of cultivating a loving consiousness is an important quality aspect for the Soyana team. Each member leads an integral, healthy way of life, based on meditation, prayer, spiritual music, daily exercise and of course a vegetarian diet. The inner poise and joy flows into the food products and thus strengthens the consumer,” says Soyana on its website.

I first heard Danzer speak in front of a European crowd. As a business owner, inventor and a highly trained marathon runner, Danzer’s fitness and calm are striking. After he presented his company and his views of deep integrity about the foods we eat, he proceeded to move to the buffet where specialty items were served.  He personally served and filled the plates of the people who sampled the foods. For Danzer, food preparation in a world that needs and wants quick meals, is a service that he takes seriously.

If you’re aware that the foods you prepare will influence others’ thoughts, how will you change and transform your own?

The kitchen offers one of the best and most creative places for practicing mindfulness. Many mindfulness practices are done in yoga studios or meditation rooms where everything is designed to be calm and peaceful. This is a nice way to begin the practice of meditation, but real meditation starts to take place when it’s intimately integrated into daily life. What better place to start than in the kitchen?!

Turning a meal into a meditation experience can be a beneficial way to observe the mind, explore challenges and also sow love into a meal designed for yourself, your family or a friend. When viewed as play, it can also bring fun into the practice and keep it light and joyful rather than dour and serious. But more than that it can be an opportunity to consciously cook with love.

With these reflections in mind, try making a conscious meal and bringing in that delectable energy of love. Chop the zucchini with careful attention. The mind will want to wander to other things, but gently bring it back. Enjoy the creative joy of being present in the kitchen.

Bio: Debra Moffitt is author of Awake in the World: 108 Practices to Live a Divinely Inspired Life. A visionary and teacher, she’s devoted to nurturing the spiritual in everyday life. She leads workshops on spiritual practices at the Sophia Institute and other venues in the U.S. and Europe. Her mind/body/spirit articles, essays and stories appear in publications around the globe and were broadcast by BBC World Services Radio. She has spent over fifteen years practicing meditation, working with dreams and doing spiritual practices. Visit her online at http://www.awakeintheworld.com.