Growing up most children are taught not to play with their food. In fact, the vast majority of adults frown on creative play regarding food and it has a huge impact on how people grow up psychologically. Because I am such a big proponent of play in all aspects of life, it is particularly important for me to add it into a natural and necessary aspect of life: eating.
We all eat. Some people eat a lot, some people eat little, but if we want to survive for longer than a couple of weeks, we will eat food and meals in order to fuel our bodies. These meals can be either conscious and intentional parts of our lives or they can be hurried, uncomfortable necessities and the choice is completely ours.
Playing with Food the Right Way
It's fun to fantasize about having a handful of food, throwing it at a friend, and seeing it splatter on them. The traditional "food fight" is exhilarating and fun, but there is no need to waste food or make a mess every time you want to prepare food to eat.
Here are a few perspectives and ways you can play with your food in order to have a more enjoyable experience with this universal need.
1. Gather with people you love -- the first step in having a playful, enjoyable experience is to be intentional about whom you invite to a dinner. For many, eating alone is the easiest way to make food less special and anxiety-ridden. Put yourself in front of people who mean something to you and who are already playful.
The more fun-loving, non-serious people you invite into your life, the better your meal and the more playful the vibe. I host something called an "intentional dinner" where we all come together with a specific intention and cook tapas style all night long.
2. Approach food playfully -- There are a million ways to approach our food and context makes a big difference. In the context of coffee, for example, some people are addicted and see it as a drug that they need in order to survive. Instead, look at it like coffee is humorous and connects individuals together (like President Obama and Seinfeld!).
By having a more playful perspective on how you view these things, you'll have a much better respect for what you consume.
3. Mix it up -- eating the same food every day can be great if you are focused on your purpose and mission and don't want to spend mental energy making something different. That being said, it is great to mix up what you cook and how you cook it in order to throw some playful chaos into your life.
To do this, you can just buy some ingredients at random, combine them with what you already have, and create a completely new concoction from scratch. It might be inspired by a certain dish or style of cooking, but mixing it up can be playful and rewarding for the cooking and eating process. Also, you could choose to find a whacky recipe and put it together from scratch.
4. Romantic partners -- you'd be amazed how playful cooking can be. Splash a little oil, rub some fruit juice on your partner, or throw some raw ingredients around. All of it is welcome and the playful energy will immediately be transferred into the bedroom.