[FO ODD] E S S A Y
Mind Over Platter Healing Through Food By Angie Martinez
Connective and Impactful
70
There’s a link between food and mental health that you may only discuss once a year at your annual checkup. The focus is usually on eating fruits and vegetables, along with foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can positively affect your physical health as well as your mental health and well-being. Well, I can tell you that the whole cabrito I indulged in just a mere two weeks ago, although perhaps affecting my physical appearance, contributed to my mental well-being. It not only made me happy, but it created a core memory, a memory filled with beautiful faces, laughter, chatter, color, and a beautiful, smoky scent, and a memory that I can call on in times of sadness or loneliness. I can then revel in the times that I’ve spent with loved ones over a platter of delicious foods. It’s cold outside as I write this, and we are entering another day at home due to inclement weather and icy roads in Texas. All I want are some tacos. I can’t have tacos though because the Jeep in my driveway isn’t four-wheel drive, and I, a Fort Worth native, am not equipped with the proper drifting maneuvers to safely drive my car to and from my mother’s house or a restaurant. Even if I could, nothing is open. So, in the name of safety and warmth, I settle. I settled for box-mix pancakes and leftovers. We didn’t prepare to be iced in, so I settled. But the icy mood had foodies all over Fort Worth craving something for the soul.
Photo courtesy of Eden Williams Photography
