When we feed ourselves, we also ingest the >essence of a food — how it was grown, harvested, stored, transported, cooked, and assembled. Even the attitude of the person cooking your food affects its quality. Because foods like organic produce, whole grains and freshly caught fish retain their original integrity, their essence remains vital. Their life force is vibrant, feeding us the direct energy of the elements — sun, rain, wind, and earth. Since most of us don't grow our own food or have the opportunity to spend time in nature, consuming vital essence foods is a profound way to regularly connect to the earth.

Hale Sofia Schatz, Shira Shaiman, If the Buddha Came to Dinner