They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved (Acts 2: 46-47, New American Bible).
I have always enjoyed food. Growing up my parents never pressured me to eat anything I didn’t want to eat nor would they force me to stay at the dinner table until my plate was clean. Thankfully, I would say I have a healthy relationship with food.
But almost a year ago, when I learned that I was experiencing burnout, anxiety made me have no appetite. In a span of a few days, my anxiety caused me to lose almost ten pounds. Losing this much weight so quickly made me feel sick to my stomach, literally. I didn’t feel like myself and I hated that I had let anxiety cause me to lose weight.
Alongside this quick weight loss, burnout made me feel depressed which caused me to feel lonely, even though I knew I wasn’t. If you know depression, however, you know that it can make you feel lonely despite being surrounded by others.
So, at that point, I didn’t enjoy eating and I felt lonely. Not a fun combination especially for someone who enjoys eating food and socializing which usually happen at the same time.
At the start of 2023, I started regaining my weight. Things were less stressful and I wasn’t as anxious so I had regained my appetite. In these past couple of months, I have been enjoying food again. Actually, I have been enjoying food so much that after every bite, especially when eating a fun meal like BBQ from Heim’s or tacos from Torchy’s, I have been giving God praise for how delicious the food has been. “Praise the Lord! This food is so good I could cry!” It reminds me of my niece who while eating a snack she says “mmmm” after every bite. I can’t help it. I feel moved with joy.
When I noticed that I was giving God praise after every bite of food, I started appreciating food more, not only when I was eating but cooking it too. I have never really enjoyed cooking but happily do it to feed me and my husband.
While experiencing loneliness in the fall, it made me miss my mom and her cooking. I’m Mexican-American so I grew up eating Mexican food at home. Since I have moved away from her, it has been difficult to eat traditional Mexican food like the kind she makes.
In this loneliness and trying to find something I would have an appetite for, I decided that I would learn how to cook Mexican food. The first traditional recipe I made was chicken posole verde. I invited my friend to share this meal with me and we both enjoyed the meal so much that I offered to make it for my friends from bible study. So, back in February, I invited my friends over to my apartment, cooked the chicken posole verde, and enjoyed having community with one another.
I had a newfound joy and appreciation for food and community. It felt like a beautiful realization from the holy spirit, one that filled me with happiness. God’s timing is perfect so soon after this realization, one of the readings from Mass said this,
They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people (Acts 2:46 NAB)
And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved (NAB)
The important part of the apostles gathering in the early Church was for the salvation of souls; food was a part of that process. So, while it brought me joy to appreciate food again, I soon realized how important it was to gather with others and share in this joy which would lead us to His glory. I get to do this every day when me and my husband have dinner. Then, as the months have gone by, I have been inviting people over to my home to eat things like breakfast foods, chicken parmesan, tacos, and then more traditional Mexican dishes like chiles rellenos. I found myself getting closer to everyone I invited over to my home, fed, and conversed with, all while finding ways to bring God to one another. They do say that food brings people together but I think God is the ultimate unifier.
My love for food and cooking has grown. My love for community has grown. Now I have a better understanding of how God can use food for His glory with the hopes that more will be saved in the process.
And, just in case you were curious, there is a link below to the recipe for the Chicken Pozole Verde.
Enjoy!
This is a refreshing perspective! I appreciate the reminder of the importance of sharing a meal with others. Often times the best conversations happen while sharing a meal together. Many people feel loved when a meal is provided. Hallelujah!
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on websites