If you’re like most people, you’ve never thought about how to eat a banana. You just ate it. Basically, you peel it, toss the peel, eat the inside stuff and hope you don’t slip on the peel later.
In the CAMP system, though, we never take any food for granted. The CAMP philosophy sees all foods as great gifts of energy, effort and sacrifice. A banana is no exception.
By paying attention as we eat the banana, we honor the energy and effort of the banana plant and all the people and equipment it took to bring the banana to us.
Eating the Banana
For this CAMP experience, you’ll need a banana, a plate, a knife and a fork or toothpick. If you’re reading this at a computer, go and get those items and then return.In the CAMP system, we eat all foods very mindfully, aware of each bite and the gifts it brings. The following steps will show you how mindfulness can be used to enjoy a banana.
1. Before you actually eat the banana, take moment to look carefully at it. Notice its shape, color, markings, contours, textures. If the banana is not ripe, it will be greenish. An older banana will have brown splotches on the skin. Feel the weight of the banana in your hand--the weight is due to the water content of the banana. Consider these facts relating to your banana:
as shipped to the store where you bought it.
2. Don’t peel the banana; instead, use the knife to cut off one end. Cut off about ¼ of your banana. In the CAMP way of thinking, it’s far better to throw some food away than to eat more than we need. Throwing away part of your banana is one way to get used to the idea of not eating all the food available. If you find yourself thinking that it’s wasteful to throw away food, that’s normal. Go ahead and throw away your ¼ of the banana anyway.
3. Now peel the remaining part of the banana. Discard the skin.
4. Use your knife to cut your banana into 15 - 20 pieces.
5. Before eating any of it, spend a moment looking at the cut-up banana, the pieces just waiting there for you to enjoy. Put your nose close to the banana and take a good whiff of banana aroma.
6. Eat the banana pieces one at a time. It may be easier for you to use the fork or the toothpick to pick up the banana pieces.
7. Eat each piece slowly, carefully, completely. Don’t put a piece of banana in your mouth until you’re completely done with the one you’re chewing.8. During the eating of each piece, bring your mind to some aspect of the food. Here are some suggestions of what you can think about with each piece of banana:
