For the first day of our 21 Days of Joy itinerary, we’ll start with something easy and delicious! You’re going to choose a favourite food, and spend some time really savouring the experience of eating it :)

Easy version:

Take as long as possible to experience a favourite food. Really look at it, notice the texture, smell it, lick it, hold it on your tongue for a bit before starting to chew it. Try to stretch this activity out for a few minutes.

Less easy:

Share this experience with someone, both of you taking your time as much as possible. Do this without talking. Choose a food with happy memories associated to it!

Why?

This activity helps to ground you in your senses, which is one of the simplest ways to connect your body/mind awareness. If you choose a food you really like, this will also enhance your experience of a favourite taste sensation. Sharing the activity and/or choosing a food with happy memories tied to it will enhance the experience even more!

Ideas for sharing:

If you’re on social media, you can share a picture of this favourite food, along with a quick description of the activity to encourage your friends and followers to try it too!

If you’re doing a “daily Joy texting” partnership with someone, send each other a picture of the food you chose. Maybe share some thoughts with each other about your experiences of this activity.

This is also an easy one to share in person, as suggested above. It can be done in a partnership or even in a large group such as a class (students would need to be asked ahead of time to bring something easily portable to eat, such as dried fruit, nuts, etc.).

Feel free to share your experience with me! Either in the comments below, or by emailing me.

My personal choice:

Tamari almonds. Not only do I love the slightly salty taste, and the crunchy roasted almond texture, but they always remind me of a houseguest we had a couple of years ago, who made and brought a big bag of tamari almonds with her when she came to visit. We had such fun together, and the taste of tamari almonds brings those memories back. I love them in a salad, or just to munch on by the handful :)

If you’ve never made them yourself and would like to try it, it’s easy - here’s how:

• preheat oven to 350

• spread raw almonds onto a baking sheet

• roast in the oven for around 12-15 minutes (keep an eye on them - don’t let them burn!), until you can smell them

• turn the oven off

• put about 1tbsp tamari sauce in a large glass bowl; add the hot roasted almonds and stir to coat (don’t let them soak in the tamari sauce)

• spread the coated almonds back on the baking sheet, and return to the oven - keep the oven door slightly ajar, and stir after a few minutes so they dry on all sides

• allow them to cool completely before storing

• ENJOY!