From Seed to Stomach: A Holistic Model for Achieving Individual, Community, and Environmental Health through Food
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Authors
Cole, Rachel
Issue Date
2008
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The standard American way of eating has left the well-being of people, communities, and the planet in dire straits. The two most common solutions to these eating practices, restrictive dieting and nutritional-reductionism, fail to bring health to the whole of the living system that humans exist within. This paper is a first attempt at exploring a radical model of eating for health called CHOICE eating - Conscious, HOlistic, Integrative, Connected, and Empowered - that aims to provide what these two approaches lack. CHOICE is I) founded in mindful awareness; 2) based both on living systems theory in that it aims to support the health of the individual, communities, and the environment and in the belief that the mind, body, and spirit of individuals is deeply interconnected; 3) restores the locus of control over food choices within the individual, rather than in external "experts" and/or prescriptive eating regimens; 4) Integrates external (i.e. environmental awareness) and internal resources (somatic cues) into the eating process; 5) results in empowered eaters able to make informed and health supportive choices that benefit the wellbeing not only of their minds, bodies, and spirits, but also of local communities and earth's ecology.