Guess who's coming to dinner?

When I refined the mission statement of Take Out Project a few months ago, little did I know what a premonition it would be for my life.

“Take Out Project is a ceramic sharing program.  We ask people to slow down and think about what they are consuming, both what they are purchasing and using in their homes and what they are putting into their bodies.  We ask that in doing this they re-connect with their community.”

Well, nothing makes you slow down and think about the food you are eating like finding out you are allergic to five different foods.  Although I have always considered myself a fairly healthy eater, now I realize its not just about avoiding junk food and fast food restaurants. 

Even though I don’t eat much packaged food, I now find myself scouring over the labels in the grocery store and picking over restaurant menus for the one entrée I am able to eat and still avoid my allergens.  The other day my husband asked me, “What do you mean there is gluten in salad dressings? Why would they put gluten in salad dressing?!”  Good question.

Slow down.  I am constantly thinking about food now.  What I can’t have anymore.  How I’m going to fill in those blanks with other foods.  What am I going to do if I can’t enjoy my favorite activity:  going “out” to dinner?

Earlier in the year at our first Take Out Project informational potluck the group decided they wanted to bring back the potluck.  I guess that’s what I’ll have to do.  Dinner “in” is going to be the new thing.  Luckily I have some new ceramic serving pieces that I purchased in North Carolina last month.  Beautiful pieces for beautiful food. 

I’m getting the slow down part, now I just need to re-connect with my community.  It’s not about what I can’t have it’s about what’s been right in front of me the whole time just waiting to be re-introduced.  Hello world, it’s me.  Would you like to come over for dinner?

 -Julie