The Practical Nutritionist, LLC

Audrey J Pellegrino, M. Ed, M. HN

Holistic Nutritionist/Educator

603-768-3214

practicalnutrition@gmail.com

www.pnutritionist.com

THE MISSING INGREDIENT

September is the month I look forward to all year. Each year, my mother, brothers, sisters and our children and their children go away for a long weekend. With a family as large as mine that can easily add up to fifty. Now that so many of my nieces and nephews and children have significant others some years we are up to sixty. It doesn’t matter where we go, just that we do. I believe it is the most important time of the year, because we take the time to play games, explore, be together, and lounge. Where we go doesn’t matter either. However, the one thing that can make or break our weekend is the food.

Some years we find a large restaurant that can accommodate us all and we go out to eat, other times we are at camps and they will prepare the meals for us, but the favorite times are when we have a kitchen and can cook ourselves. I love to cook for others and I love to cook with others, even if someone only cuts up the tomatoes, or scrubs the pots, the act of preparing a meal together creates memories and bonds. My twenty nine year old nephew, from Oregon, is excited because this year he wants to be in charge of preparing a meal, my ten year old great niece, from Danbury is equally excited because she will be able to help make Sunday morning pancakes.

Each month I write about foods and the nutritional qualities that they give us. There is one quality that is not measurable and that is the care and thought which you put into your food. It is amazing how much more pleasure you get from a cookie that Grandma made versus a cookie you got from a package. I really believe it is the love that Grandma put into the cookie that makes it so delicious. When my children were younger I had a container on the back of my stove and I would not let them see what was in it. I would secretly put it into anything I was cooking or baking. They would try to sneak and see what it was, they were sure it was some spice or herb. As they aged and realized they could peek into the jar, they did, and all they found was a note that said, “The secret ingredient which makes it delicious is love”. Not exactly what they thought, but I think it was appreciated.

Many studies have been done to prove that people with a social network are healthier and live longer lives. There are many factors that could contribute to this: regular eating habits, increased positive hormones and decreased negative hormones, decreased stress, feeling of self worth…the list is quite long. As a nutritionist and avid cook I would add that the missing ingredient is what contributes to people living happier and healthier lives.

This month I encourage you to cook with someone or for someone. Have friends, your next door neighbor or relatives over but instead of preparing a meal for them, prepare a meal with them. It does not have to be gourmet and I guarantee the memories you make will make your meal taste delicious and your spirit healthier!