Reading recipes for enjoyment is in my blood. I come from a long line of great cooks, from my great-grandmothers, to my grandmothers, to my mom and her generation to my cousins. And while they were all wonderful cooks they also enjoy reading recipes as much as I do.

There are vast collections of cookbooks lining bookshelves in my relative’s homes. I have a few bookshelves filled with cookbooks as well. I believe this is why I love Pinterest so much…multitudes of recipes to read!

An idea of the cookbooks that fill my shelves include collections from churches across the country, ethnic cooking books, technical cook books, high-altitude baking books, food garnish books, diabetic cooking books, cooking for crowds cook books, and this list could go on.

One of my newest cookbooks is one that I found after my 10-day detox several weeks ago. Dr. Mark Hyman offers recipes in The Blood Sugar Solution Cookbook[i] that are low in carbs, sugar is virtually non-existent and without all the junk that had been eliminated during the detox.

As I read through the beginning chapters, I was thrilled to read page 50. Dr. Hyman encourages a different approach to mealtime. While some of these suggestions have been mentioned by others, there is one that surprised me. This is what Dr. Hyman suggests.

• Avoid multitasking while eating (like turn off the TV, don’t read email on your phone, etc.).
• “Take Five” before a meal (take five deep breaths to slow your metabolism and feel relaxed).
• Offer gratitude before your meal (prayer).
• Bring your attention fully to the food.
• Follow the 20-minute Rule (like put your fork down between bites, chew slowly and take 20 minutes to eat what is on your plate).

I have never read in any secular diet plan or in any cookbook outside of a spiritual-journey guide that has ever mentioned giving thanks before a meal. Now Dr. Hyman doesn’t specifically mention prayer in his book, but he is asking his readers to show gratitude for what they are about to eat. And with the popularity of this detox fad, who knows where this concept of offering gratitude may lead.

Of course for those of us who are people of faith, offering gratitude is not a foreign concept. The Bible is filled with commands to be grateful and to give thanks to God for what He has done. Here are just a few.

Psalm 95:2

Psalm 100:4

Psalm 106:1

Philippians 4:6

Colossians 3:15-17

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Jesus gave thanks on two occasions before a meal. With the crowds around Him, Jesus gave thanks for the five loaves and two fishes before feeding the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21). And during the last supper with His disciples, Jesus gave thanks for the cup and bread before sharing with them (Matthew 26:26-29).

We’ve been given the example to give thanks for what we have and as followers of Jesus, we should offer gratitude for the food before us.

I must admit, I’m not consistent in this spiritual discipline of prayer before meals. But I do understand the importance of this practice. When I write about something that I struggle with, I find it’s for a reason and that my desire is to follow God’s guidelines more closely.

So today, I will find more determination to thank God for the food placed before me. Whether aloud of privately, I will offer gratitude to God for what He has provided.

I appreciate Dr. Hyman’s words of encouragement where diet and food is concerned, but I must also thank him for helping me see this deficiency in my spiritual life as well.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:15-17 – NIV)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

[i] The Blood Sugar Solution Cookbook, Mark Hyman, MD, Little, Brown and Company Publishing, 2013.