How to Apply Minimalism to Food ⋆ Earth and Water

Minimalism is a great concept to be applied to every aspect of our lives. Our food, being a particularly important one. Seeing as how we have to eat so gosh darn often. Food is a primary are of focus in most of our lives.

Applying minimalism to food has several beneficial repercussions. It can help us be healthier, lose weight, save money and help the world around us while we’re at it. Think: The simpler, the better.

We can apply minimalism to the zero waste concept, opting for foods that create less plastic such as those found in bulk food stores and farmer’s markets. This allows us not only to lead a simpler, lower impact life but also helps us create a beautiful aesthetic in our kitchens with glass jars instead of boxes, plastic containers and the like.

Simplifying Our Grocery Lists to Apply Minimalism to Food

We can apply minimalism to our food intake by eliminating all of the processed foods. These are the ones that have all of those unpronounceable ingredients in them that are gonna give us all cancer. You know the rule: “If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it” I try to get to the bare minimum basics with the food that’s in my kitchen.

Oatmeal
Rice of various types
Nuts and seeds
Quinoa
Dried beans
Fruit and Veggies
Spices

We love 1-ingredient foods. Also known as “whole” foods or “Clean eating”. And many of these can be found as zero-waste foods if you have a local grocery store that does loose bulk.

Once you get use to eating the basics, life gets a lot easier. You master your recipes, always have what you need on hand, don’t have to struggle as much figuring out what to eat and can use your energy on other things in life.

A lot of foods these days have addictive additives in them. Once you wean yourself off of these foods and opt for a more minimalistic approach to what you’re consuming, you’ll find that food is less of a big deal. You’re no longer hangry or over eating. Food becomes a means of energy instead of a pass time or an uncontrollable bout of regret.

Take it Slow While Applying Minimalism to Food

This sort of change can’t happen over night. When we try to make immediate lifestyle changes that are vastly different from what we’re use to, it gets overwhelming and unsustainable. They have to happen slowly. Gradually, over time. Piece by piece. This is why diets don’t work long term.

Start by being mindful.

Notice what you’re already eating, how it makes you feel; mind body and soul.
How much waste is it creating?
How much is it costing you on average every month?
How much time and energy are you spending on food?

There’s power in simply contemplating the systems you already have in place. We often get very comfortable with continuing to do what we’ve always done simply because that’s all we know. Making lasting changes is only hard because we think it all needs to be drastic and done now. When you realize that a 1% change every day is a 365% change in a year, things get more manageable.

Where to start applying minimalism to food

Read the ingredients in the food you buy.

Avoid things with long ingredient lists. Especially those with things we can’t pronounce.
Boxed is almost always processed and bad.
Experiment more with things in the produce department. I like to pick out one item from the produce department that I’ve never tried before and pinterest something to do with it.
Frozen is almost as good as fresh veggies.
Canned usually isn’t great.

Make it a Saturday habit to check out your local farmer’s market. Almost everything there is much better than anything you find at the store. It also helps you to eat locally and seasonally which is something your body craves.

Stay open minded. You definitely don’t have to be perfect about it and there are more options that you think.

I often get asked, “What DO you eat!?” because most of what I don’t eat are things people are use to having in nearly every meal. But there is an ever growing list of things as society starts to wake up to the truth of it all. There are pastas and sauces and lots of normal things out there that fall into the perimeters of healthy, wholesome and high vibrational. You just have to look for them.

Minimalistic food Affirmations:

I have more than I need
My happiness does not lie in food.
Quality over quantity
There are positive alternatives for everything.
I release all the clutter
I am free of the ties to material things
I make space for what is really important
It can be easy if I want it to be

Minimalistic food Intentions:

I intend to let go of all that I does not serve me or the earth well
I intend that I find an easy way that fits me and my lifestyle
I intend that I create space in all areas of my life
I intend that I make room for my desires to manifest
I intend that I only allow that which serves a purpose in my life

Minimalism in history

Nuns, monks and other religious and spiritual peoples have been applying minimalism to food and lives for centuries. So did all of our ancestors. It just wasn’t called “Minimalism” until recently. They all made do with what they had available to them, repaired that which was broken, shared with their neighbors, family and friends.

Today, we buy more and more trying to find happiness. Trying to fill the gaps in our souls. And it works…briefly. “Stuff” and excess, overly processed food gives us temporary happiness when we bring it into our lives, but it’s short lived.

I’m not at all saying you shouldn’t buy things, that you should deprive yourself or that you should take a vow of poverty. I’m a Taurus, which means I love shiny objects, good food and all the luxury. But bring this happiness concept into your mind when making purchases. Ask yourself:

Is this going to make me happy for more than a day? A week?
Is this useful or beneficial to my health?
Does it bring more ease and flow into my life?
Do the benefits outweigh the cons?
Am I taking care of myself and my family as well as I can?

I’d love to hear back from you on this subject! Do you feel moved to take inspired action? What changes can you make? Comment below and join our FB group!

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