There’s no need for religion of any kind to understand the profound beauty and gift that is happening when we make and eat food together. Gratitude is a virtue that catalyses many other nurturing senses and awareness.

I often find it slightly uncomfortable when there is no moment to celebrate the many beings whose lives we take to become our food, and the truly luxurious aspects of being able to make and eat food together. Often this moment of remembering is dismissed because those involved are ‘not religious’.

But religion isn’t the origin of food, gratitude and companionship. The living world is.

For myself, while not formally ‘religious’, it feels good to take a moment and remember all the beings and relationships that we take our food from. It’s a truly deep feeling, and one I never have to ‘pretend’ to feel. It’s natural… unless it gets sidelined by ‘convenience’ (hurrying) or rejection.

Gratitude is a natural grace. Taking time to express and celebrate it prior to having a meal together just makes every kind of sense to me… no religions required.