intentional nourishment

intentional nourishment is a way of life, nurturing ourselves, our communities, and our planet. drawing from mindfulness, holistic wellness and the black radical tradition and inspired by the work of vertamae smart grosvenor , nikki giovanni and bell hooks, intentional nourishment is not just a culinary practice but a social mission.

safiya's culinary practice is about using food as a tool to foster community, connection and collective healing. it's about using food to help shape and contribute to different conversations and energies, encourage different levels of intimacy and vulnerability, and manage different levels of connection and presence. intentional nourishment is about shifting perspectives to create new meanings.

this practice, alongside sisterwoman's three pillars of community, education and mindfulness, has since evolved into a philosophy that encapsulates safiya's vision for the future of food and wellness.

the way that we consume is an expression of intention. what we cook, where we get our food from, how we cook it, and who we share it with—all of these choices carry meaning.

intentional nourishment involves a conscious, thoughtful approach to food and wellness, recognising the deep connections between what we eat, how we feel, and the broader systems of community, culture, the environment, and the politics that inform them.

intentional nourishment nourishes our bodies, supports our cultural identities, promotes sustainability, and fosters a sense of community. it is a radical act of care, both for ourselves, our communities and the world around us.

this philosophy is still being developed, as explored and expanded in the intentional nourishment podcast.

Intentional Nourishment is A JOURNEY

Intentional Nourishment is POLITICAL

Intentional Nourishment is ANCESTRAL

Intentional Nourishment is HOLISTIC

Intentional Nourishment is SUSTAINABLE

Intentional Nourishment is JOYFUL

Intentional Nourishment is CREATIVE

Intentional Nourishment is practiced in COMMUNITY

Intentional Nourishment is PLANT BASED

Intentional Nourishment is PERSONAL

Intentional Nourishment is MINDFUL

Intentional Nourishment is SIMPLE

the kitchen is a place of joy

soul food depends on what you put in it. i don't mean spices either.

if you have a serious, loving, creative energetic attitude towards life, when you cook, you cook with the same attitude. food changes into blood, blood into cells, cells change into energy which changes up into life and since your lifestyle is imaginative, creative, loving, energetic, serious, food is life. you dig.

~
vertamae smart - grosvenor, vibration cooking (1970)