Kim Calichio, owner of The Connected Chef, shares her tips on how to use food to have deeper conversations with your loved ones.
As with many tough conversations, food makes things a little easier to address. It eases our discomfort and insecurities and it creates a bridge between the now and more broad ideas.
Using food to bridge that gap and be the container for some more difficult conversations is a great way to feel more comfortable with being vulnerable and offering a new concept to your children.
Here’s how I create the container for deep connection through food:
Make sure you aren’t already multitasking
This will require all of your attention. That means you should NOT attempt this in the middle of the work/school week when there are a million of other things happening and that need to get done. Be sure your mind is cleared. (I know…that’s WAY easier said than done)Let go of expectations
The point of this space you’re creating is to CONNECT. Not to make your best dish. That means food is the medium and whatever gets on the plate is a plus. This also means letting go of an expectation that things need to stay neat and clean. Again – the purpose is to focus on the conversation. This can be tricky, so lots of self-reminders will help. 🙂Have a plan
Having a clear idea of what you want to express and get out of the conversation will free you up to focus on the cooking a bit more. Having a clear idea of the SIMPLE RECIPE you will cook, will allow the food to flow easily and give you the space to talk about the topic you’d like to.
And remember that this can apply to talking with your kids about their school grades, stuff with their friends, something that’s worrying you as their parent or anything in between.
It’s also a great way to talk with your partner or a friend/family member about something sticky.
The Connected Chef works with families to use food as a way to connect with one another. Our children’s gardening and cooking classes and individual family programs both allow us to work with clients to problem solve the struggles of parenthood and food. The results: Kids who feel empowered to make independent & healthy food choices and develop a natural respect for their environment and community; Parents who are able to take a breath and connect with their kids instead of engaging in the ever-present struggle of mealtime.
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