Food For Thought: Winter, Week 2
For our second writing prompt, a meditation on gifts.
In week two of our seasonal food writing prompts, we explore the acts of giving and receiving.
I once had a man court me by bringing me gifts of food, primarily fruits and vegetables. First it was some dried apricots, then a bag of freshly picked chard, the morning dew still on it. This was followed, a few days later, by a box of pears. One afternoon, he even delivered homemade bagels. Not only did I find this incredibly sweet—food is certainly my primary love language—but it reminded me of some sort of archaic Stone Age mating ritual. It’s how I image the cavemen would woo their love interests, a Paleo approach to dating. Hey babe, here’s some meat I scavenged and a handful of berries I picked.
Last week, as I went for a walk down my street, I was given more food gifts. My neighbor offered me two ears of gorgeous corn that he had grown with his grandmother. The purple blue kernels shone like jewels. As I headed home, I ran into another neighbor, who offered me a can of sardines and a pomegranate. When I checked my mailbox, I found a packet of tea that had been sent by a friend. And just the week before, another friend had left apple butter in my mailbox. How exquisite these simple gifts, none of which I was expecting. The best kind of gifts.
For many of us, food is its own love language. In many cultures, food is given as an offering to ancestors or deities. By giving nourishment, we not only create and reinforce social relationships, but the reward system in our brains is activated. It stimulates dopamine and releases oxytocin, both of which contribute to feelings of pleasure, connection, and trust.
Receiving gifts has similar effects on our brains as giving gifts, activating pleasure centers and lowering the stress hormone cortisol. This is particularly true when gifts are received that connote social care, like food or quality time spent together. The memory centers of our brains light up, as we associate the pleasures of receiving with this person, in this time and place.
Sometimes, the act of receiving can feel challenging. We wonder about our obligations in accepting. What if we don’t want the gift? How might we repay them? But if we are ale to quiet down the anxious brain, and truly rest in the act of receiving, whole portals open up. To receive is also to give. We allow another person to enjoy the experience of giving.
Sometimes, I look around my kitchen and realize that almost every object in there is associated with someone I love. My pepper grinder was a gift from my mother. My bread knife a gift from my father. Some dear friends gifted me a blue cast iron Staub pot with a glass lid. Every time I use it, I think of them. How lovely it is to bring them to mind over a pot of beans or winter stew.
I may eat alone more than I’d like, but with all these gifts in my life, it is as if I am surrounded by friends at every meal
"The people who give you their food give you their heart." – Cesar Chavez, farm labor leader and civil rights activist
Here is this week’s writing prompt.
Try to find a quiet place where you can focus for 20 minutes. The point of this exercise is to write freely, without judgement, and see what comes out of your brain. You can answer each prompt question or start with the one that is most interesting and see where it takes you. Follow your mind, be present with the emotions coming up, and have fun. See if you can keep writing for the full 15 minutes. It might sound like an intimidating amount of time, but I promise it will end up flying by. Just keep going!
How do you define or practice seasonal giving? How has this changed for you over the years?
This year, will you be creating handmade gifts, baking, offering to barter, or providing charitable services within your community? Can you imagine cooking a meal for someone as your holiday gift?
Have you ever received a gift of food that was particularly exceptional, memorable, or heartwarming?
Have you ever been gifted a kitchen tool, cookbook, or set of plates that you still love and enjoy today? Have you gifted such an item?
Can you imagine gifting a recipe? Writing it down on fancy paper, or including it in a book to have as a family heirloom—a gift to future generations? Do you have any recipes that were written down and given to you—a gift from your ancestors?
Write for fifteen minutes. You can use the audio below to time yourself.
If you had some good insights or surprises from this writing exercise, share them in the comments below!
Lots of love,
Gina Rae
If you want to dive deeper with your food writing, consider signing up for my 21 Day Food Writing Journey, which launches in January 2025.
As a special thank you for early sign-ups, use code Foodie15 at check-out for 15% off the list price.
This course includes twenty-one days of prompts and exercises, delivered to your Inbox every morning. This self-directed course will help you process your emotions, dream into your food future, and check in with yourself—all in less than 20 minutes a day. You may even find that by the end of the course, you will have completely transformed your relationship with food and found new sources of nourishment.
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