CONSCIOUS FOOD MOVEMENT (MY STORY)

Kristin Price, founder of Gather & Stay, and I got to talking.

“Let’s do a collaboration!” We wanted to do something more engaging than your average blogpost on each others’ blogs. As we kept on talking our conversations led us to founding the Conscious Food Movement:

“We want a world where every person feels a deep connection with themselves and their life. We believe in creating time to stop ‘being busy’, turn off your phone, and take time for yourself so you can nourish your soul. We inspire people to feed themselves physically, mentally and emotionally through sharing stories, connecting at a deeper level and offering you an experience of what healthy food can be like. ”  

Below is my story:

When was the ‘aha’ moment when I made the connection that what I put in my body directly affects how and what I feel?

My family was attending a fancy Chinese banquet for my grandfather’s birthday. The kind of banquet where you get dressed up and politely say hello to all the relatives that you don’t know.  And we were served squab. The Chinese dish was considered a delicacy, but in all of my 12 years I had been on the planet, I had never seen such a thing! 

Much to my mother’s demise, shortly after I declared that I would start eating a vegetarian diet.   

When I was 27, I started getting some questionable skin ailments and it was then that my naturopath placed me on an alkaline diet. I had already cut out white sugar and had been a vegetarian for 15 years, and so I was very concerned about what I was going to eat. Two years prior, an actor has gifted me “Pure Food and Wine” by Matthew Kenney and Sarma Mengalis.
This was It! I had found the answer I was looking for!

I began eating a cleaner diet (no processed vegan junk food here) and was able to sustain enough energy to work my long film days without the aid of coffee. A deeper connection to the food I ate (and my sweet tooth) led me to dive deeply into studying raw food culinary and nutrition and start Living Lotus Chocolate. 

Feeding people healthy food just feels good.
This had been my story…
Or so I had thought.

This past year, my grandmother left this earth and it wasn’t until her funeral when most of her grandchildren spoke about different memories of her and food. I realized my story started way before I was gifted “Pure Food and Wine.”
Each grandchild had a story about my grandmother and the memory of either making, eating or the act of driving to or away from food. She and my grandfather would haul as many grandchildren that would fit into their maroon coloured Oldsmobile out for dim-sum. (legal or not!)

Family was important to her and good food was one thing that brought us all together. 
She would make sure we dined together at least once a month. 

Thinking back and reflecting, yes, there is definitely a connection with what you eat and how you feel physically. Hell yes to eating a nutrient dense meal and feeling super pumped about eating a dessert that is guilt free. 
But my most recent epiphany would be the connection of what food does for you emotionally, spiritually and mentally.

I have always loved hosting dinner parties, we gather and then stay when there is good food around!

Food is so important, and realizing your connection is even more significant.

So my story actually started much earlier than my days working in film. I never actually thought I would ever own a food business. When I started creating and playing in the kitchen, I had no idea I would stumble upon my passion. Creating something sweet and healthy has given me so much joy. My connection to food was sparked by my grandmother but my passion for bringing awareness to the food we eat fuels my energy for Living Lotus Chocolate. 

We would love to hear your story. Share with us on Instagram @consciousfoodmovement #consciousfoodmovement