“Oh no, I can’t have that.”

It’s a phrase that is all too familiar at Sunday brunches, dinner parties and even right here at the Newgroup office in Bondi. We’re all guilty of uttering these objections when we’re faced with the perilous choice between eating to live and living to eat. However, after some deep soul searching and deliberation, I’ve come to the very personal conclusion that one of the most thrilling delights of life is to sit down with a hearty, comfort meal and let my worries slowly ebb away with each bite.

And it’s no wonder that food provokes such a strong visceral reaction in us – primed from our early paleolithic days, humans are programmed to hunt and seek sustenance. In 2015, it’s certainly no different – as pleasure seeking creatures, we have evolved to become experiential beings with a thirst for visual perfection, tantalising tastes and unique sensations. Food has evolved from being the giver of life, to being a lifestyle.

How does one unlock the wonders of experiential food consumption? After all, we live in an age of nutritional transparency, super foods and strict diets, so the risk of falling into a rigid and flavourless daily regimen is almost certain. The key is to stop “stopping” yourself, and start saying yes to life’s little indulgences. Stop thinking about what you “should” eat and start seeking what you would rather eat.

So, let’s pledge to make our daily feeds feel less like chores, and more like treats. Because you know what I’d rather eat? A mouthful of “I’ll have a second helping of that, thanks!”.

Want a second helping of Newgroup? Click here to read all about our enchanting experience at our client’s fine restaurant, Tetsuya’s.