mindful nutrition

One of the first days after arriving in California, I was at the movies with my children, something we enjoy  doing together. The title of the film is: The Whale.

The reason I am writing about this film is due to its storyline and connection to health and nutrition. The movie is about a man who struggles with his body and health being severely obese. The film shows what a painful experience can affect both emotions and the physical body. After reading some reviews about the film, I have not seen anything being written about the connection to nutrition, and how important it is in times of stress and, as here in the film, great sadness.

WE ARE WHAT WE EAT

The movie, which is adapted from a play, has a clear purpose of gaining an understanding beyond what is immediately seen on the surface.

In the film we meet and get to know Charlie, who is severely obese and due to his weight, lives a very reclusive lifestyle. Throughout the film, we see Charlie trying to restore his broken relationship with his teenage daughter. She is angry at her father for losing contact with him at a young age, after he had left the family, for his gay friend. After his new love died, Charlie completely fell apart. During a conversation with his daughter, Charlie says, “A close friend died, and it had an effect on me”. Charlie has dealt with his grief by binge eating. Charlie’s daughter, Ellie, is not shy to point out his weight and how “disgusting” he is. Ellie shows no sympathy or understanding, and she scolds Charlie for his overweight and takes pictures of him, which she posts on social media.

OBESITY STRESSES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND THE HEART, lesding to diabetes - WHO

Charlie gets a visit daily by a friend, Liz. She is a nurse and the sister to his late boyfriend. She brings him food, mostly unhealthy fast food, as that is what satisfies his emotions. Liz takes Charlie’s blood pressure and listens to his heart. She wants him hospitalized, because his blood pressure is very high, but Charlie does not want to go.

In the evening, Charlie orders more fast food – pizza, which he gets delivered to his door. Charlie puts money outside the door in the mailbox and he does not open the door until after the delivery boy has left. At one point in the film, after feeling strong emotions - Charlie binge eats and quickly inhales several big slices of pizza. When this is not enough, he opens a drawer in the kitchen which is filled with candy and other junk food. Charlie adds to his unhealthy diet sugary drinks like soda, and no water or any nutritionally food like fruits and veggies.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN EMOTIONS, PHYSICAL AND NUTRITION

I have chosen to write about this poignant, honest but also sad story about a man who is struck by grief and in his solitude comforts himself with food and overeating, because of what I write about in my blog and website. The importance of nutrition and how it can affect your health, both emotionally, physically, and your happiness. Charlie says at one point in the movie, “I have not always been overweight”. His emotions drove him to eat more and by eating nutritionally poor became severely overweight. His obesity has made him both unhealthy and unhappy.

Charlie’s nurse friend, Liz, brings him mostly junk food, but does not realize that she is contributing to his ill health and obesity. She wants to help Charlie, therefor, she puts more focus on what he likes to eat rather than the importance of nutrition for his health. At the end of the movie, after giving Charlie a big sandwich, she says to herself, “what am I doing?” while sitting quietly next to Charlie.

OBESITY AND DIABETES2 ARE PREVENTABLE

Today, it is FAR too easy to get ready-made, overly processed food. From fast food restaurants on every corner, to the supermarket, which lures with ready-made meals from the freezer or refrigerator section, that contains substances for a longer shelf life and flavor enhancer in the form of sweeteners and other things like color. The food can be delivered to the door, so we do not have to go out to buy food or cook the food ourselves at home in the kitchen.

HEALING PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY STARTS IN THE KITCHEN

If you feel stressed, worried, or tired, go to the kitchen and you will find happiness in preparing and eating your own cooking. Feel good knowing that you can control everything, that is going into your meal and ultimately into your body. Fill the shopping cart with colored fruits and vegetables, and freshly caught fish or good quality organic meat, a little but good quality meat is better. Putting more effort into what foods you buy, prepare and eats – and you will soon notice, that you are feeling healthier and happier.

On my website www.meretheshenon.com/recipes you can find ideas to easy healthy recipes.

Why the film's title is The Whale you must watch the movie to get an answer. The film is worth watching.

In health and happiness

Merethe Shenon