Food for body and soul

I had an interesting conversation on Saturday with a man who was interested in sprouted bread. He eats it for health reasons. I have made sprouted bread before but I was not very happy with it. This conversation though brought out some questions about food that I think about a lot.
Why do we eat? What should we eat? Our society right now has created many rules about food. There is always a new item on the "not to eat" list as well as the latest "good for you" list. I like the idea that you eat what is available around you, enjoying a variety of flavors and styles, but not restricting yourself to one thing because it is the only healthy option. As soon as we set rules then food loses its place as a need in our lives and it becomes one more thing to control.
Why not approach eating with a moderate view. We need to feed ourselves. Let's do it with simple, good food in moderation. The joy and pleasure that comes from eating is also a health benefit. When we make too many rules for our diets, eating becomes a chore and a weight around our necks. I espouse the view that we should eat for nutrition and pleasure. We need to take the time to enjoy the process of making food as well as the time to eat it. Our lives then slow down and our eating makes us happy. We digest better and food gives us more than our daily nutritional needs. It not only feeds the body but also the soul and contributes to a wholistic life.