Catholic perspective on food

June 8, 1:56 PMDC Catholic Living ExaminerDenise Hunnell, M.D.

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The June 7 issue of Our Sunday Visitor had a great front page story about food and Catholicism:

Throughout history, the Church has been at the forefront of "food movements." Monks began brewing beer in the Middle Ages for their own consumption and then sold it to the public. Religious orders all over Europe made wine, cheese, bread and other products. This tradition continues today in religious communities that farm the land, roast coffee beans, make wine and beer, raise animals and sell gourmet food items.

As Christians, we're rightly encouraged to care more about our souls than our bodies. But this doesn't mean food isn't important. In fact, Catholics are the perfect people to champion the rebirth of a culinary culture.

 

I’ve already talked a bit about fasting, but this article reminds us that eating is not a free-for-all. Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins. So what does it mean to eat like a Catholic? It means to be conscious of the impact our food choices have on our bodies, our communities, and our environment. It also means remembering our bounty is a gift from God. The OSV article offers ten suggestions:

1. Grow something of your own. Plant a vegetable garden, fruit trees, berries or herbs. If you have no land, use pots.

2.  Rediscover your food heritage. Dig up the traditional recipes of your family, heritage or geographical region.

3.  Make family dinnertime sacred. It doesn't need to be elaborate, but it does need to be together.

4.  Eat in season. Discover what's in season in your area and start planning recipes around these ingredients.

5.  Visit your local farmers' markets. Farmers' markets continue to sprout up; buy what you can from local growers and producers.

6.  Support local food artisans and shops. Keep your money in your local economy as much as you can.

7.  Meet your local farmers. Take the kids and visit the farms in your area -- it's great to have relationships with people who grow your food.

8.  Host a potluck. Use this as a chance to build relationships and share recipes, all while feasting on good food!

9.  Educate yourself. Start reading labels, find out where your food comes from, and get informed about food issues.

10.  Give thanks. Always pray a blessing before meals, and create special food traditions around liturgical seasons and feast days.

 

The farmers markets in the D.C. Metro area are awesome. I made my first foray of the season to the Burke farmers market this past Saturday. The strawberries are at their peak and are luscious. I also got a nice supply of green beans, onions, and cherry tomatoes. What I did not find was the Quail Creek bakery kiosk. It was very hard to return home and tell my family I did not have challa bread, scones, or foccacia. I also missed the beekeeper. I need to renew my supply of local honey.

I do have a small garden growing on my deck. I am harvesting basil, cilantro, oregano, and rosemary right now. I can’t wait to enjoy home grown tomatoes and peppers. I have had success for years using self-watering pots from the Gardeners Supply Company.

This past Christmas I utilized many food gifts from religious orders. I ordered gourmet mustard from the Benedictine Sisters of Mt Angel.  I highly recommend the Devoutly Dill and the Glorious Garlic. I ordered thimbleberry jam from the Society of St. John. The Trappistine Nuns of Our Lady of the Mississippi provided amazing creamy caramel candy. And the Carmelite Monks in Wyoming supply me with Mystic Monk coffee year-round.

Eating should to be more than just a biological function. It is an opportunity to acknowledge God’s generous gifts and to share these gifts in the fellowship of our family and friends. During these difficult economic times, our local food pantries are straining to meet the demands of those in need and so be sure to echo God’s generosity by feeding the hungry through a donation to your local food bank.

Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord. Amen.