World Food Day reflections: Listening to the body, honouring the Earth

For a long time, my relationship with food felt like a very difficult puzzle, one I couldn’t quite solve. I’ve danced between being vegetarian, vegan, and everything in between. Each stage was filled with good intentions, a truly genuine wish to live gently on the Earth, and a desire to do what felt right.

But somewhere along the journey, I began to realise that what’s “right” isn’t always a fixed idea, it’s an active living, breathing dialogue between the body, the heart, and the planet.

🌱 My ideal meets my reality

When I first chose to go vegetarian (and later vegan), it came from a deep love for animals and nature. I wanted my plate to reflect my values: compassion, non-violence, connection. But after some time, my body started whispering and sometimes even shouting in ways I didn’t quite understand. Fatigue. Cravings. Very poor blood results. A sense that something essential was missing. I tried to quiet those whispers, telling myself I just needed more supplements, more discipline, more greens.

Until one day, I realised that my body wasn’t failing me. It was speaking to me. And when I began to listen, really listen, I realised that my body needed animal protein to stay balanced and well. That realization came with a wave of confusion and guilt. How could I, someone who cares deeply about all living beings, make peace with that?

💫 Gratitude over guilt

What I’ve come to understand is that food, in all its forms, is sacred. Whether it’s a handful of lentils, a garden tomato kissed by the sun, or a piece of responsibly sourced animal protein, each carries the same invitation:

to receive with gratitude, to consume consciously, and to give thanks.

This understanding reminds me deeply of how many Indigenous and Native American cultures approach nourishment.

When an animal is hunted or harvested, it is done with prayer, ceremony, and profound respect. Every part of the animal is used, nothing wasted, and before eating, they offer thanks to the spirit of that creature, acknowledging its life and the sacred exchange that allows another life to continue.

That way of being touches me deeply. It’s not about domination or consumption, it’s about relationship. A circle of life in which giving and receiving are both sacred acts.

Now, when I prepare food, any food, I take a quiet moment to pause.

I thank the Earth.

I thank the hands that grew, gathered, or cared for it.

And if it’s an animal product, I honour the life that was given so mine can continue.

This small act turns eating into a ceremony, a bridge between nourishment and reverence, because everything is alive. One of the most beautiful yet humbling reminders I’ve ever come across is the experiment showing that plants can feel. In studies, researchers connected plants to sensitive electrodes and observed that when a flame was brought near — without even touching the plant — there was a measurable reaction.

The plant felt the approach of the fire.

This discovery changed something in me. It reminded me that all life, whether it moves, breathes, or stands rooted in place, is aware in its own mysterious way.

So when we eat, even the vegetables and grains we so lovingly grow have life and presence. They too respond to the world around them.

It deepened my gratitude for everything that nourishes me, not just animal products, but all living foods. Each bite is a connection, a moment of communion with the greater web of life.

🌿 Meeting others (and ourselves) with compassion

It’s easy to feel guilt when we walk a different path than those around us, especially in spaces where certain choices carry moral weight.

But what I’ve learned is that judgemen, whether it comes from others or from ourselves, separates us from the heart.

Food is deeply personal.

Our bodies, histories, and needs are all unique.

And I feel that true compassion means allowing that diversity to exist without shame.

These days, I no longer label myself one way or another. I flow with the seasons, my cycle, and my body’s messages. Sometimes that means vibrant plant-based meals, other times, it includes nourishing bone broth or eggs.

The common thread is mindfulness, eating with love instead of forced rules and this is only my story and not an argument. It’s my offering. I am not trying to convince anyone, I am simply drumming my truth into the world, creating rhythm and resonance for others who may feel the same inner conflict about food, guilt, and gratitude.

💛 A heartfelt reminder on World Food Day

This is why World Food Day, for me, isn’t just about what we eat, it’s about our relationship with nourishment, the land, and the living web that sustains us all. It’s about constantly remembering that everything is connected, and that respect for life includes our own.

So wherever you are on your food journey today, vegan, vegetarian, omnivore, or still exploring, may you do so with kindness.

Kindness for your body.

Kindness for the Earth.

Kindness for every choice that has brought you here.

And may every meal, whatever it contains, become a prayer of gratitude, because your body is wise, tour heart is kind, so let them both have a seat at the table.🙏🏼

Always with love

B✨

P.s.: Share your journey and thoughts.