When you talk about hard issues, like body image and being fat and feminism, it’s nice to have a refuge. Somewhere to recoop lost Sanity Points. A little place where you don’t have to justify why you have the right to take up space, or field the same old tired questions. Nigella Lawson is one of my happy people who makes a happy place where I can revel in foodie delights and appreciate good food without the guilt that usually accompanies cooking shows.
As a Type 1 Diabetic, I can tell you a few things about food guilt. A serve of carbohydrate ought to be as big as one’s balled up fist, low hypoglycemic foods better serve one’s blood sugars and fizzy, sugary drinks are to be avoided. One should eat small meals every couple of hours and manage one’s blood sugar levels by finger prick tests and the administration of insulin, by another needle. One must also be prepared to be asked, “Should you be eating that?” when one is eating regular meals, and especially when one is suffering a hypoclycemic attack (when one needs carbohydrates to recover!) When T1D guilts start playing with the food guilt at large in the world, one’s brain gets quite muddled. For a long time I saw food as fuel only, and didn’t cook much because the whole concept of “food” overwhelmed me.
I’ve only really started cooking in the last couple of years, and it’s been because of my involvement in the fat acceptance movement. A lot of people might nod and think, “Ah yes, because Teh Obese People want to raise the green flag on food! They just want to eat without sanction!” however it’s a little more complex than that. And a little less scare-mongering too. I wasn’t surprised to read that poorer people were more likely to be obese, because genetics aside, it’s HARD to nourish yourself when you’re time and/or cash poor and especially if you’re confused as to what is actually nourishing. And when brands like Biggest Loser (the Australian TV series) and Domino’s join up, it’s a thoroughly brain melting combination.
Not being in charge of my meals really destroyed any kind of confidence I had in nourishing myself. I ate what other people suggested, and didn’t listen to what my body wanted. This year I figured out, after having my consciousness raised by the concept of intuitive eating, that my body doesn’t digest meat in an especially comfortable way, so I became vegetarian. In the last few months the bloating and bowel pain I’d suffered most of my life largely disappeared, and only reappeared when I ate a small portion of meat (yes, to test myself – very scientific!)
As a result of my brand spanking new vegetarian requirement, I started cooking a hell of a lot more, and discovered that I LOVED it. All of a sudden you could find me mixing my own spices, creating new dishes and making noodles from scratch. It’s honestly been like a series of revelations for me – I feel a slowly growing sense of confidence as I become more connected to myself and so much more nourished. I mustn’t avoid the topic of digestion here because it’s been so core to my altered outlook on food, and sorry if you’re sensitive to such matters, but since removing a food group that was causing me such distress (while supplementing my iron and protein of course!) I’ve found I’m poopin’ more regularly with no pain! Yep, I went there – but I’m all for normalising completely NORMAL body functions, naturally.
So, back to Nigella Lawson who I last saw devouring a cupcake dipped in raspberry sauce in the chiaroscuro light of a refrigerator. Thank you for serving your foodie talk with dollops of care and compassion while never failing to address the psychological aspects of eating. I find Nigella’s attitude refreshing, and much more ideal than the confused mess and mayhem of ideas towards food in the real world. Food really isn’t an enemy when I watch her show.
I love watching Nigella's show. She sometimes makes out treat food to be a naughty cheeky thing to eat, but she still gobbles up this naughty food with glee. She's also so very conscious of what she presents food to be with her family – ie: fun, delicious and to be enjoyed. 'Naughty' treats are to be eaten with a cheeky smile, not guilt.
I'm with you – she is such a warm, loving and happy refuge. It's total food porn too.
Hehe I watched that episode on iview the other day! I really love Nigella too and she has definitely contributed to my changed attitude towards food. I overcame an unhealthy attitude towards food (I hate calling it an eating disorder because it was never actually diagnosed) a few years ago and I still struggle with it occasionally. It's difficult sometimes when we're bombarded with all these ideas in the media and in everyday life that food is a guilty pleasure and something that we have to restrict.
I also wanted to say thanks for linking to the article about intuitive eating. I'd never heard of it before and it looks like something that could really help me a lot.
Great post, especially the bit about normalizing natural bodily functions… let's stop being so precious about these things, eh?
Also have to ask: what's the first pic in the set of four pics of meals? It looks de-licious. Did you make it?
Jo x
Ah yes, I love how she always pops back to eat from the fridge at the end of her show, it fills me with a little bit of joy.
I too have discovered i don't digest meat very comfortably. I'm fine with lean meats like chicken and turkey, but I find stuff like minced beef makes me feel sick a lot – so I've cut that out.
I dunno what's on that veggie pizza of yours, but my tummy just rumbled.
Ahh the first one is my vegie masala, it just has any vegie I have on hand (in this case sweet potato, onion, broccoli, carrot) and there I've got it on some rice noodles. I serve it with home made savoury crepes or rotis too!
Ooh I'm actually just making pizza tonight! That one has roast potato, sweet potato and beetroot with caramelised onion on it I think :D I love roasting beetroot. It's the best.
om nom nom…
Your food makes me want to try vegetarianism. :P
I'm so happy to have found your blog – I wanted to say HELLO before reading on further. ox
Yay! Cooking is the best! I've become completely obsessed with foodie blogs, too. There are some fabulous vego ones out there!
I love this post and the pictures. I'm not quite where you are yet as far as happily cooking, but I am on my way.
Also, yay for regular poos.
Nigella is fantastic! She has a very relaxing TV presence.
http://bargainfatshionista.blogspot.com
Gah! I just discovered your blog (through tons of linkage re: your recent “skinny jeans” post, but mostly through Minh-Ha and Mimi of Threadbared), and not only is it full of lovely things to read, but I'm also in awe of your gorgeous web design! Do you do your own web design alongside the graphic design/lettering/art?
Also, INTUITIVE EATING has been a big thing for me in the last, oh, year and a half. I discovered it through reading about a year ago, but fell out of practice when stress and the restrict/overeat cycle took over again. Your post has inspired me to continue to cook more, and to eat when hungry!
xo
Oh, I love Nigella too. She is my favourite celebrity chef ever – so sensual, so comforting, never scary. I've been trying to get back into cooking recently because I've found that I sort of lost interest over the past year or so. So thank you for this post because it's made me feel happy about cooking again :)
– Liz xx
I'm finally cottoning onto the concept of intuitive eating too.. and it's such a duh-why-didn't-i-think-of-this-before sort of thing.
My partner decided to do a cabbage soup diet last year (NIGHTMARE) which reduced my energy (physical and mental) to the point where I was laying on the couch, crying for no reason. I wanted protein; as soon as I had it, I felt like I could think rationally again. Since that little experiment, I know to eat what my body is asking for, within reason.