I have decided to invent a new word. Gastropsychic. While working on the Winter Food Guide for our next Mini Magazine, I realized that I could not find the right word to describe how grapefruit makes me feel in the Winter. The sour/bitter/sweet taste of grapefruits, combined with their juicy texture is a burst of refreshment in the middle of January, when the days are still short, and going outside in the cold is torturous. I dread the season of heavy stews full of meats and root vegetables. Sooner rather than later, I am tired of eating overly sweet winter fruits. That is why I consider grapefruits a blessing. They are tangy and light, and their color stands out against apples, pears, and sweet potatoes. Even as I write this, I feel my mouth watering, remembering the smell of acid in the air when I peel them open.

Beyond their nutritional value, as well as their gastronomic qualities, grapefruits have strong impact on my spirit. Therefore, my new word is a combination of the Greek word: Gastro, which means relating to the stomach, and Psyche, which means “breath” or “soul”. Thus the word Gastropsychic denotes having to do with the way the stomach and mind relate to one another. Obviously, we all like to eat foods that have an emotional impact on us, but we often attribute those “comfort foods” to cultural reasons and familiar memories. But in my opinion, sometimes the way food affects us has to do with our experience as an individual, impacting our mind, body, and spirit, going far beyond our cultural experience. So if you have a food that means something to you, the way grapefruit does to me, use the word “gastropsychic” and pass it on.