There is beauty in simplicity. The smell of fresh herbs, the juiciness of a perfectly ripe peach, the crunchy satisfaction of a warm piece of bread with butter. Food does not have to be complex to be delicious. In fact, when we strip away the bells and whistles, food becomes a lot more approachable. This gives us an opportunity to be in touch with the simple building blocks of our diets and see them for what they truly are - nourishing gifts from the earth with endless possibilities.

Feeling connected to food is an important step in healing your relationship with it. Once we are able to make peace with the simple things, more complex challenges become less intimidating. Bringing more mindfulness into the eating experience can help us further appreciate and befriend food. For example, taking a moment to consider where your food came from and find a sense of gratitude for the journey it has made to your plate supports a connective relationship with food and eating. Something as simple as eating without distractions or acknowledging the flavors and textures of food can transform your meals and your life. Give it a try with this week with this simple and delicious Caprese Salad recipe below.

Caprese Salad

Ingredients:

2 ripe heirloom tomatoes
1 large ball of fresh mozzarella cheese
1 bunch of fresh basil
Balsamic dressing:
- ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 garlic clove, minced

Directions:

Slice tomatoes and mozzarella cheese in roughly half in thick slices.
For the dressing, place all ingredients in either a large bowl or mason jar. Whisk or shake until all ingredients are fully mixed.
Arrange tomato slices on a platter. Next, place whole basil leaves on top of each slice followed by the mozzarella.
Sprinkle it with salt and pepper and drizzle with balsamic dressing.
Take a deep breath, be present, and enjoy!