Soul Food

Last night, I was craving cookies.

I love trying new things, and I happened to have some coconut flour at home. So I went into the kitchen and simply experimented. The result was a batch of coconut, whole-grain and spelt cookies that turned out to be absolutely delicious. And when I looked at the ingredients afterwards, I realized that, apart from the sugar, they were actually pretty healthy.

But that’s not really what I want to talk about today.

This isn’t about how many calories a cookie has, whether sugar is good or bad, or whether we should divide food into “healthy” and “unhealthy.”

Because food is so much more than simply nourishing our bodies.

Of course, we need food to provide our bodies with energy and nutrients. But food has always played a much bigger role in our lives. In the past, people spent a significant part of their day searching for, gathering, hunting and preparing food. Today, things are much easier for us in that respect. At the same time, for many of us, eating has become something we somehow have to fit in between everything else.

Something quick on the way to work. A snack between appointments. Dinner in front of the TV or while we’re busy doing something else.

But food can be so much more.

A homemade meal we consciously took the time to prepare. Dinner shared with people who matter to us. The smell of a dish that reminds us of our childhood. Or simply a plate of freshly baked cookies we were really craving.

Food can be pleasure. Food can be connection. Food can be comfort. And sometimes, food can simply be something that feels good for our soul in that particular moment.

To me, that’s exactly what soul food is.

And soul food doesn’t necessarily have to be something that appears particularly healthy on some list. It can be a salad, a warm bowl of soup, a lovingly prepared dinner or a really good pizza. And sometimes, it can even simply be a trip to a fast-food restaurant. Because sometimes, it’s good for our mental well-being to simply enjoy something. Even if it’s just a standard burger.

Of course, that shouldn’t become the rule. Our physical and mental well-being are closely connected. And just as our minds need things that are good for them, our bodies need enough energy and good nutrients.

Maybe that’s why we shouldn’t only pay attention to what we feed our bodies, but also to what we feed our minds and souls.

With enough nutrients. With positive experiences. With pleasure. With connection. With rest. With things that give us strength.

And sometimes, perhaps, with a freshly baked coconut, whole-grain and spelt cookie.

Because soul food isn’t a product you can buy.

Soul food is something you experience.