The weekend is here, but relaxation and restoration may not be in the cards. With the world falling apart every direction we look and womxn’s bodies under siege as eight states pass legislation limiting access to abortion, deep breaths are truly hard won. Which got me thinking: What better time than now to come together with a group of womxn you love to nourish their bodies and feed their minds?
Few things seem more important today than creating the space to be with, see, and listen to the womxn you love—and those you don’t yet know. We must take the time to ask each other how are hearts are. How our bodies feel. How our minds are faring. Checking in matters.
In this spirit—and inspired by the work of Nourish Resist in Northern California—I bring you a suggested menu for a spring dinner that can be arranged as a potluck or a hosted meal, and a few conversation starting questions to guide your time together. Gather with at least a few womxn, and welcome the idea of getting to know people with different life experiences and philosophies than you. This will enrich the conversation greatly.
Finally, orient the conversation and evening around action: It feels terrible to spend an evening lamenting the state of the world and leave without any sense of agency for change. With this in mind, here are a few questions to guide your conversation:
1. What can I do to make you feel a little bit safer, a little bit more at ease, a little bit bigger in your heart, and mind, and body right now?
2. How are we going to make sure that we aren’t the only ones who are safe, but that all womxn are safe—including trans womxn of color, whose life expectancy is only 35 years of age?
3. How are we going to stay sane through it all? What keeps you sane?
4. How are we going to talk to the men in our lives and ask them to step up and take a stand for womxn’s bodies, womxn’s safety, and womxn’s rights?
As you ask each other these questions, remember the importance of two key factors:
1. Listen. Make yourself available to hear what the person in front of you is saying, rather than thinking about what you’re going to say next, or what you wish they were saying, or what your boss said to you at work this week. It’s not easy, but trying makes all the difference. Just listen.
2. Act. If you don’t like the conversation going on around you, it’s up to you to change it. Change it with your body, your actions, your words, and your mind.
Here are a few things you can do to take immediate action to help womxn around the country:
1. Sign the Planned Parenthood open letter to abolish abortion bans forever.
2. Volunteer to be an escort at an abortion clinic near you. More information on this here.
3. Be vocal. Talk to friends and family. Check in with womxn. And very importantly: Talk to the men in your lives about how they are taking a stand to support the womxn they love.
4. Donate to organizations fighting to secure safety for womxn in states with proposed abortion bans. More information here.
And now, the food. Here’s a four course vegetarian and gluten-free optional menu that is also just plain delicious.
Citrus Avocado Salad with Black Pepper Almonds.
Gluten-free and vegetarian, because honey is used in the almonds; could experiment with maple syrup.
Roasted Fennel and Spring Greens Soup.
Vegan and gluten-free.
Roasted Delicata Squash & Fennel Frittata with Herb Salad.
Vegetarian and gluten-free.
And a few dessert options, because I just couldn’t choose.
Cardamom Rose Whipped Tahini-Stuffed Dates.
Vegan and gluten-free.
Hibiscus Mint Strawberry Sorbet.
Vegetarian (honey is used) and gluten-free.
Vegetarian and potentially gluten-free, if you use gluten-free bread.
Blood Orange Blossom Fudge Brownies.
The brownies are vegan and gluten-free, the frosting is not—but there’s an option to veganize.
And to keep everyone hydrated:
With cucumber, citrus, orange blossom, and rose water.
