When too much becomes blurry
We live in a culture that worships abundance. We were taught that a successful table is a table that overflows, that a generous plate is a plate where you can no longer see the china. But this abundance is often a mirage. When a plate contains too many disparate elements—complex sauces, multiple toppings, conflicting textures—the message sent to the body becomes unclear. The palate is saturated, the brain is confused, and the digestive system prepares for battle rather than peaceful assimilation.
I choose clarity. For me, a magnificent plate is one where each ingredient is identifiable, respected and in its rightful place. It’s a plate that tells a simple and honest story. Clarity is not lack; It’s precision. It’s knowing that this tomato, this oil and this piece of fish are there for a specific reason. This approach naturally reduces metabolic stress and allows a real connection with what we consume.
Three elements are enough
Watch the most memorable dishes of Mediterranean cuisine. They are often based on three pillars: an exceptional vegetable, a noble fat and a pure protein. That's all. This simplicity is a strength. It allows the quality of each product to shine. You can't cheat with simplicity. If the olive oil is mediocre, you can feel it. If the vegetable is not fresh, it shows. Clarity imposes a demand for truth that directly benefits our health.
By limiting the number of elements, we also make the work of our body easier. Digestion becomes a smooth and efficient process. The body immediately recognizes nutrients and knows how to use them. There is no nutritional 'noise', no hidden calories in sugary sauces or starchy binders. We eat with clear intention, and the body responds with immediate vitality. Clarity is the shortest path to energy.
The ethics of clarity
Cooking with clarity means demonstrating a form of ethics towards nature. It's like, 'This ingredient is so good that I don't need to mask it.' It honors the work of the farmer, the cycle of the seasons and the purity of the product. When we drown a vegetable under a mountain of melted cheese or industrial sauce, we are disrespecting it. We transform a gift from the earth into a shapeless mass of calories.
This ethic is reflected in our own bodies. By eating clean foods, we learn to respect ourselves. We stop treating our stomach like a trash can into which we throw confusing mixtures. We become selective, attentive, conscious. Clarity on the plate inevitably leads to clarity of consciousness. We begin to perceive the nuances, the subtle flavors, the delicate textures. The meal becomes a meditation on the living.
Listen to the silence
The greatest benefit of clarity is that it allows the body to speak. In the confusion of excess, satiety signals are scrambled. We continue to eat simply because the brain is stimulated by too many artificial flavors. But in front of a clear plate, the dialogue is direct. The body says: 'I have received my minerals, I have received my fats, I am satisfied'. A peaceful silence settles in, a clear end to the meal without regret.
This ability to listen to your body is the basis of all lasting health. It protects us against excess and guides us towards what we really need. Clarity gives us back our autonomy. We are no longer slaves to complicated recipes or marketing injunctions. We are sovereign beings who choose to nourish ourselves with precision and love. The body never lies when we speak to it clearly.
The elegance of the essential
Choosing clarity over abundance is choosing elegance. It is understanding that wealth does not reside in numbers, but in the quality of presence. A clear meal is one that nourishes the soul as well as the cells.
I invite you to simplify your plates. Remove what is not necessary. Let your ingredients breathe. Look for the pure line, the true taste, the manifest intention. You will see that you will feel lighter, more vibrant and more at peace. Clarity is a luxury available to everyone, a promise of health that begins with an honest look at what we eat. Bon appetit, in the light of the essential.
