Do you use food to comfort?

Getting raw and real in part 2 of my food story!

Photo by Chris H De La Rosa on Caribbean Pot

﷽

There’s something profoundly comforting about the foods that connect us to our past, our heritage, and our faith. I often find myself transported back to my grandmother’s dining room table, the plastic covered seats, sticking to my legs as I sat there, fidgeting, while she patiently tried to convince me to try Callaloo, the national dish of Trinidad and Tobago.

As a child, the dish looked unappealing—this blend of okra, coconut, Madame Jeanette pepper, and spices seemed like a bowl of confusion to my young eyes. I remember saying, “no Granny I won’t eat it, it looks like vomit.” But my grandmother was persistent, her love and patience more resilient than my resistance.

“Shucks chile that is some good food dher,” she said speaking Trinidadian English. She saved her Trini accent for moments of seriousness! To emphasize a point.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of convincing, I took a hesitant bite. To my surprise, the taste was nothing like I had imagined. It was rich, savory, and full of warmth—just like the love my grandmother poured into it. What began as reluctance turned into adoration; callaloo became my favorite meal, one that my grandmother prepared for me on special occasions. Even now, just the thought of it brings a flood of memories of her, and a deep sense of gratitude. If close my eyes I can hear the clanging of her steel pots like the steel drum and smell the aroma that I will never again smell in this life of my grandmother’s kitchen! May Allah have mercy on her soul. Ameen.

The Spiritual Connection to Food

Reflecting on these memories, I realize how deeply food is intertwined with our spiritual and cultural identity. The dishes my grandmother made—Callaloo, saltfish, ground provisions like plantain, dasheen, and eddo—were more than just meals. They were a connection to our roots, a reminder of Allah’s (SWT) blessings.

50:9

وَنَزَّلْنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ مُّبَـٰرَكًۭا فَأَنۢبَتْنَا بِهِۦ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ وَحَبَّ ٱلْحَصِيدِ ٩

And We send down blessed rain from the sky, bringing forth gardens and grains for harvest,

These foods, which my grandmother lovingly called “ground provisions,” are directly from the earth—gifts from Allah to sustain and nourish us. This understanding has become a significant part of my food journey, leading me to a deeper appreciation of the spiritual dimensions of eating. When we consume what Allah has provided, we are not just feeding our bodies; we are nourishing our souls and remembering Allah and His cycle of provision and it instills a deep sense of gratitude in me.

Struggling with Food in a Consumer-Driven Society

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

However, growing up in America presented a different challenge. The food culture I was exposed to was rooted in overconsumption, a reflection of a society driven by capitalism where profit often outweighs health. The food was laden with chemicals, far removed from the natural, wholesome provisions Allah has blessed us with. This environment fostered a toxic relationship with food, one that led to significant weight gain and a distorted view of eating.

Miqdam bin Madikarib said:

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘A human being fills no worse vessel than his stomach. It is sufficient for a human being to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his spine straight. But if he must (fill it), then one third of food, one third for drink and one third for air.’”  Sunan Ibn Majah 3349

This Hadith is a powerful reminder of the importance of moderation, not just in eating, but in all aspects of life. Yet, in my teenage years and well beyond, my relationship with food was anything but moderate. It was tied to feelings of unworthiness and shame, leading me to overeat as a way to cope. Food became a tool to suppress my emotions, rather than to nourish my body and soul. I would sneak food, hiding my eating habits out of fear of judgment. This cycle of shame and secrecy only deepened my unhealthy relationship with food. And honestly it got so bad I just thought I would never change. But there came a point I just had enough of being fat, enough of not being able to do the things I wanted to do, enough of not fitting into the clothing I wanted to wear, enough of having to ask for a seatbelt extender on the airplane, and when enough boiled over, I took action to change.

Healing Through Faith and Food

Alhamdulillah, by the will of Allah, I’ve been able to embark on a journey of healing. I realized that before I could develop a healthy relationship with food, I needed to develop a healthy relationship with myself. This journey has been far from easy—it required confronting deep-seated negative thoughts, acknowledging my emotions, and turning to Allah for strength and guidance.

2:168

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ حَلَـٰلًۭا طَيِّبًۭا وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّۭ مُّبِينٌ ١٦٨

O humanity! Eat from what is lawful and good on the earth and do not follow Satan’s footsteps. He is truly your sworn enemy.

Through this process, I began to appreciate the true purpose of food. It is not merely for consumption, but a blessing from Allah that provides us with the energy we need to worship Him, to maintain our health, and to protect us from illness. I started to ask myself what I genuinely enjoyed eating, and to my surprise, I discovered a love for healthy, natural foods. Foods like bitter gourd or as we Trinidadians call it, bitter melon, radishes, and carrots became my new favorites—simple, nutritious, and a reflection of my renewed relationship with food.

I reflected on the fact that overconsumption is following the footsteps of our sworn enemy Satan. When we reflect (do taddabur click here for more on taddabur) on the above ayah of the Quran we must ask ourselves why has Allah swt mentioned eating what is lawful and good and then followed it with do not follow in the footsteps of Satan? Warning us that Satan is our sworn enemy. We only need to look around us to see the destruction in our society, in our very lives of what consuming unlawful foods, over consumption of food is doing to us. It is killing us, destroying our morality and distancing us from Allah, and strengthening our relationship with Satan. This terrifies me! and motivates me to eat what is lawful and what is good, in moderation.

The Power of Food as a Source of Comfort

One of the most profound changes in my journey was redefining what comfort food meant to me. Before, comfort food was an unhealthy escape from my emotions. Now, it honors my emotions and memories, bringing me closer to Allah. When I miss my family, especially my grandmother, I prepare Callaloo. It is not just a meal—it’s a way to remember her, to feel connected to my roots, and to reflect on the blessings Allah has given me.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَهِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ عِلاَقَةَ، عَنْ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ شَرِيكٍ، قَالَ شَهِدْتُ الأَعْرَابَ يَسْأَلُونَ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَعَلَيْنَا حَرَجٌ فِي كَذَا أَعَلَيْنَا حَرَجٌ فِي كَذَا فَقَالَ لَهُمْ ‏"‏ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ وَضَعَ اللَّهُ الْحَرَجَ إِلاَّ مَنِ اقْتَرَضَ مِنْ عِرْضِ أَخِيهِ شَيْئًا فَذَاكَ الَّذِي حَرَجٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ عَلَيْنَا جُنَاحٌ أَنْ نَتَدَاوَى قَالَ ‏"‏ تَدَاوَوْا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ لَمْ يَضَعْ دَاءً إِلاَّ وَضَعَ مَعَهُ شِفَاءً إِلاَّ الْهَرَمَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا خَيْرُ مَا أُعْطِيَ الْعَبْدُ قَالَ ‏"‏ خُلُقٌ حَسَنٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated that Usamah bin Sharik said: “I saw the Bedouins asking the Prophet (ﷺ): ‘Is there any harm in such and such, is there any harm in such and such?’ He said to them: ‘O slaves of Allah! Allah has only made harm in that which transgresses the honor of one’s brother. That is what is sinful.’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Is there any sin if we do not seek treatment?’ He said: ‘Seek treatment, O slaves of Allah! For Allah does not create any disease but He also creates with it the cure, except for old age.’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is the best thing that a person may be given?’ He said: ‘Good manners.’”

Sunan Ibn Majah 3436

This Hadith reminds me of the wisdom in the foods Allah has provided. Foods that are natural, wholesome, and pure have healing properties. My grandmother understood this well, often telling me about the benefits of honey, ginger, and hibiscus long before I appreciated their value. Now, as I strive to eat foods that nourish both my body and soul, I realize how much wisdom there is in turning back to what is simple, natural, and given to us by our Creator.

Embracing a Healthier, Holistic Approach to Eating

Photo by Olga Kovalski on Unsplash

Today, my approach to food is rooted in love—for myself, for my body, and for Allah’s (SWT) provisions. I no longer eat to suppress emotions but to honor them. I take time to truly taste and enjoy my food, to appreciate the flavors and the nourishment they provide. I am still on this journey, with some weight yet to lose, but I am no longer ashamed. I am grateful. I have found a balance, where food serves its rightful purpose as a source of sustenance, healing, and even comfort—without being a means of escape.

2:172

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ ١٧٢

O believers! Eat from the good things We have provided for you. And give thanks to Allah if you ˹truly˺ worship Him ˹alone˺.

Contemplate how Allah has paired faith with eating good things that He has provided and that we are to give thanks and worship Him alone. For me this is a reminder to start and end my meals with praise and shukr (gratitude) to Allah. But taking is a step further, it follows me into the marketplace where I choose healthy foods, that are good for me, when I once chose chemically laced food that destroyed me, and my faith. Because when you kill your body slowly with poor food choices it impacts on your ability to worship Allah and it makes you feel horrible about yourself and that weakens your imaan (faith). But good food from Allah draws us closer to Him and helps us to be physically better able to worship Him. That to me is just mind blowing. Alhamduliah.

Conclusion: Reflecting on Food, Faith, and Self-Love

My food journey has been transformative, bringing me closer to Allah (SWT) and teaching me valuable lessons about self-love and moderation. By aligning my eating habits with my faith, I’ve found that food can be a powerful tool for spiritual growth. I encourage you to reflect on your relationship with food.

Is it one that honors your body and your Creator? Are there ways you can bring more mindfulness and gratitude into your eating habits?

May we all continue to strive for balance, health, and spiritual nourishment in every aspect of our lives. Ameen

One of the most beautiful books I have come across is an illustration Plants of the Quran:

A good book on eating well is Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats