My son had always refused to try polenta, until his social studies teacher had them try it during the Aztec unit. How did a civilization survive on corn? was the question.
So he was gung ho to make polenta from scratch. As we are cooking more and more from home using whole foods for nutrition, to follow ayurveda and also to work on my daughter’s ADHD problem, this was a great start! We had also watched the documentary Food, Inc. It was horrific and we are going vegetarian, although my son still wants some meat and it will only be organic free range. Really, it’s shocking to find out what your food supply really has turned into, and I’m determined to change that.
It’s a real joy to cook with your children. You can turn it into a meditation easily. Breathing in and out while stirring, noticing the hands touching the wooden spoon. Learning about the nutrition of the olive oil, the garlic, onion and corn meal. (all organic!) While he stired the polenta, I prepared cooked tomatoes and basil, as warm, cooked foods pacify vata and are more grounding. Here in Colorado it is arctic cold and nearly zero, so the vata is especially aggravated and warm-cooked foods is important for apana vayu, that downward flow of energy.
We sat together at mealtime and ate. I had them focus on their eating, chewing, breathing. We let our fingers rest on the table temporarily, and the next thing you know, my kids got up and started doing tree pose! Hilarious. Also, we told family stories. I told them stories about their late father, who loved to cook.
My son said he really enjoys cooking now, and tonight I will make a butternut squash with chipotle bisque. I am taking them back to the ayurvedic doctor for a check up. I’ve been also pumping them full of fish oil, serious brain food and excellent for depression, bipolar and ADHD. That and deep breathing.
Whole foods, ayurveda, yoga and meditation as well as close family connections really heal children and families. I hope you clean out your cupboards, replace them with organic, whole foods, and start cooking from scratch with your kids. It’s a great way to build a relationship with your kids, and also teach them! It’s well worth the time and effort. For their health is really the most important thing.
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