Today, I’m delighted to have a guest blogger, Maggie Davis, MS, RD, LDN, FADA, CDE the Author of a new book from Paraclete Press, “Good Food for Life: Planning, Preparing and Sharing.”

Thank you, Maggie, for your good work, and this interesting and helpful article.

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I propose that we start to restore the balance in our busy lives this holiday season. We can take the time to plan, prepare and share the good food that we have available and celebrate the gift of our spiritual, emotional and physical being by nourishing our mind, our bodies and our spirits each day. Since when is feeding our body an afterthought, something that we only pay attention to if we develop a chronic illness or life threatening disease? And when did soccer practice become more important than giving our children or grandchildren a nourishing meal? 

Here are Seven Secrets to Make your Meals Sacred:

1.         Express your thankfulness for each meal you eat
2.         Make your meals a time-out from the hectic pace of life; stop multitasking at mealtime
3.         Eat only in designated dining areas such as in the kitchen, dining room or backyard
4.         Don’t bring your worries or conflicts to the table
5.         Laugh together and share your joy at the table
6.         Set the table to reflect the importance of the meal and those you are serving
7. Break bread together whenever you can with those you love

I challenge you to start today to devote just a few minutes each day to plan in advance how you can make your meals and snacks healthier, more nourishing and more meaningful. That doesn’t mean that you have to cook every single item from scratch each day, but it might mean that on a hectic night you stop at the supermarket for a roasted chicken and some vegetables from the salad bar instead of settling for fast food or a double cheese something-or-other with no vegetables. Just make good food a priority and watch miracles happen.

Buy a copy of Maggie Davis’s new book here.