Zen and the Art of Eating Ben & Jerry’s

July 8, 2009

As many of you are already aware, I am completely in love with Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. You may think this is because I have a sweet tooth, or because I am a shameless glutton. Although there’s some truth to both of these statements, the reason I love Ben & Jerry’s has less to do with my appetite and more to do with my soul.

Ben & Jerry’s is no ordinary ice cream. You may recall from my Feast for the Senses and “Fancy Snack” posts that I firmly believe our intent and energy gets transferred into the food we prepare, and is absorbed by those who consume it. Well, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield have gone to great lengths to infuse their ice creams with love, compassion, creativity, and social consciousness. I encourage you to read more about the Ben & Jerry’s story.

But this post isn’t about these awesome guys or their groovy company. I want to tell you about my Zen practice of eating their ice cream. Just as Ben & Jerry’s has a three-tiered measure of company success (a Product Mission, an Economic Mission, and a Social Mission), I have a three-tiered approach to Ben & Jerry’s consumption.

1.  Choose the flavor that is uniquely YOU at this very moment. This first step requires you to get in touch with yourself, recognize your innermost feelings, and be fully present in the moment. Do you go for the tried and true flavor you know you will love (like Chocolate Fudge Brownie)? Are you feeling adventurous and ready to try a flavor you’ve never tried before (like Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road)? Maybe today you want to try something fruity (like Willie Nelson’s Peach Cobbler)? No matter which one you choose, you will have to accept that you may never try them all… and there are some treasures you will surely miss out on in life.

2.  Practice mindful awareness as you eat. Appreciate the wholesome, wonderful ingredients they chose, including love and positive karma. Be inspired by Ben & Jerry’s history… an unlikely pair of hippies doing something great together. Consider their philanthropy, as they keep finding ways to give back and encourage us to care for others. Enjoy the creativity that went into their choice in flavors and names, and the reasons behind them. When you do all of this, you will know you are not merely consuming a product; you are joining a movement.

3.  Know how and when to be disciplined enough to quit. There are two approaches to eating Ben & Jerry’s ice cream responsibly. One involves placing the responsibility with the manufacturer, so they will make low-fat versions that we can pig out on. The other lets the manufacturer make the best ice cream possible, and leaves it to us to have enough discipline not to overeat.

A pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream doesn’t even pretend to be fat free… it’s packed full of all kinds of yummy goodness. We need to know our limits, respect our bodies, and do what is right. The art of eating Ben & Jerry’s is all about finding the right balance between cultivated discipline and pure enjoyment.

As I see it, this is the same balance we need to find to practice the art of happiness.

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Posted in balance, choices, happiness, pleasure