Welcome to “Common Knowledge,” our new monthly column where rapper Common shares his wisdom on mental health, food and nutrition, pop culture, and more. Read the first part below.
WHAT ARE YOU EATING Who are you. What you eat affects your mind, spirit, emotions and physical health; Even though you don’t think about whether that food will put you in a certain mood while eating. We smile when we eat something we like, right? When you cook something that makes them feel good, you see people not only enjoy it but also enjoy your home.
Thanksgiving dinner in 2007 was the first time I told my family I was a vegetarian. It was the usual assortment: turkey, ham, collard greens cooked with ham, turkey gravy, candied sweet potatoes, cornbread and corn. I could only eat candied potatoes, cornbread, and popcorn. My mother, grandmother, cousins, and aunt asked me, “What are you talking about?” They looked as if to say. When you sit down at the table and everyone is eating and feasting, there is a feeling of joy and love. That shared time eating and sharing food cooked with love was important. My mother and my family were offended that I did not eat the food they cooked, they felt that I could not share their bread with them. . . Literally and figuratively.
After the second or third Thanksgiving, my mother said, “That’s who you are. I respect that. Let me cook something you like. I got it.” My mom’s friend cooked kale without ham for me, and it was a hit at the table; Along with candied sweet potatoes, cornbread, and corn, even those who usually eat meat really enjoyed these. My family and I felt the community energy and vibe returning.
My mother didn’t spice the food like she normally did; She was still trying to figure this out. Some people assume that because I eat vegetarian, that means it must be bland. You still need to “make the spice crazy” as my man Yusef says. My mother’s vegetarian cooking skills have improved. Taste of food at the Fourth Thanksgiving Really Good. My mom found a way to spice up the dish without using meat or butter by using more spices, coconut and olive oil, agave, and maple syrup. She made kale that wasn’t cooked with ham but had the same earthy flavor. The sauce wasn’t cooked into the turkey, but it was just as delicious. Candied potatoes sweetened with maple syrup instead of white sugar and not cooked with butter but still as sweet as ever, veggies mixed with tofu and spices, and unbuttered corn (my favorite) – I remember the dish being amazing.
Being mindful of the foods you put in your body is like honoring your body by knowing you’re doing it right on your own. It gives you this power. Taking good care of yourself affects your mental and spiritual existence. Putting healthy foods into your body is like saying: Man, I love myself. I respect myself.
My food journey has taken different twists and turns. KRS-One’s song “My Philosophy” first inspired me to think about food and my physical and mental health. He was my hero, and he said, “No goat, ham, chicken, turkey or hamburger, because to me that’s suicide, killing yourself.” Hip-hop has guided many of us who were not yet introduced to the concept of health and fitness, especially from a diet perspective.
I started eating a mostly vegetarian diet in my late 20s because it made me feel better physically, mentally and spiritually, and I went full vegan in my 30s. Then, around 2007, I started eating fish again and continued eating fish until 2020. Then I felt like I needed to go back to being vegan. I am 51 years old and I have been vegan again for the last three years.
Now I drink turmeric lattes all day long; just two teaspoons of ground turmeric and frothed oat milk. They are like warm hugs and turmeric is very good for healing. The green juices I drink with kale, apple juice and spinach are like my coffee; They give me energy. This is something integrative medicine specialist Tracey Rico taught me. Dr. I first connected with Tracey around 2005. I was getting sick and dealing with different things and was already getting into the holistic healing genre. There were times when I was dealing with illnesses because I traveled a lot, and Dr. Tracey suggested I replace processed foods with natural products and talked to me about where I was at emotionally. This was different. I was always open to healing in other ways, but I had never seen a doctor who started talking about my emotional state as part of the process.
While in Baltimore during filming in 2011 Darling, I asked a friend if she knew a vegan chef in the DC area who could prepare such dishes. She introduced me to Lauren Von Der Pool, a bright-spirited chef and artist known as the Queen of Green. When I first met Lauren, I had no idea how much I would learn from her. Lauren told me that if you eat more plants, you’ll be able to think more clearly. The foods I choose to put in my body have given me greater clarity and many other benefits. I had been away from beef and pork for a while, but when I stopped consuming certain things like chicken, milk, butter, and pizza (which was hard since I’m from Chicago), I could literally hear on my recordings how my voice sounded clearer and how it filled with mucus. My vocals were like that. When you hear the difference, when you feel the difference, that’s when it stays with you. This has been my path: not just doing something because someone else says it’s right, but learning from experience, making changes, and feeling the impact. The better I ate, the more creative I became.
Am I saying you should be vegan? No. My point is, you have to do what’s right for you and only you know what that is. What people are after isn’t necessarily exactly what I’m after. For me it was being vegan. It might be something else for you. All I can do is tell you what I’ve done, share the knowledge I’ve learned from my teachers, and be open about the connections and changes I’ve made in my life. It’s up to you to let hope guide you. You are the only person who can choose for you.
You can change your life by being healthier and eating better, but you don’t need to be cold or go to extremes. It’s okay to slow down as you find what works for you. Try to prepare your food in a different style; See how you feel. Order more vegetables at the restaurant. I love Chinese food; broccoli with tofu, eggplant, carrots, mushrooms, a piece of rice and maybe some meatballs. Ethiopian food always includes lots of vegetables. Even at a pizzeria, I can get pizza with tomato sauce and vegetables. I always recommend adding more green vegetables to your meals and drinking more water as a first step. Even these steps can have an impact. This doesn’t mean you have to commit. I won’t eat steak anymoreQ. Just adding more vegetables can really produce a positive result. Food has allowed me to be my best self. Food is very important to who you are. You are what you eat. To start, consider making a single change; I promise this will lead to another and another. And who knows, you might even try vegan! #make1change
Common’s Go-To Smoothie
Mixture ½ cup kale or spirulina, 1 banana, ½ cup blueberries, ½ glass of milk of your choice, And 2 or 3 ice cubes. Add more milk or ice to get the consistency you want. Makes 1 serving.
This article was originally published in the March/April issue. Men’s Health.
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