Dear Readers,

Welcome to the May issue of canvas. For so many of us, the kitchen represents the heart of the home for countless reasons. It’s the place we congregate with the family, and where friends end up hanging out when they come over. It’s where we do lots of fun things (at least to me)—cook, eat, make plans, talk on the phone—and some not-so-fun (at least to me) like cleaning, giving the dog his flea meds, and removing splinters since that room has the brightest lights. It’s the place so many of us associate with Mom, so it’s no accident that in this issue that falls during the month we celebrate Mother’s Day we explore two topics that go hand-in-hand with maternal instincts: kitchens and eating.

There’s no better place than the kitchen to start taking baby steps toward living more responsibly. Making small changes, such as switching to all-natural cleaning products and energy-efficient appliances, all add up to lighten our footprint and help us live a healthier, less toxic lifestyle. Regular contributor Chris O’Hara explores these and more simple changes to consider in “Greening Your Kitchen.”

Being an avid cook and someone whose life seems to revolve around food—whether it’s eating, reading, talking, or watching TV shows about it, food plays a very prominent role in my entire existence—our other main feature story this month has struck a particularly emotional chord. We all eat, but in this techno-obsessed, multitasking, overly scheduled era, how many of us really pay attention to our food? Personally, I spend hours thinking about my next meal, discussing what to prepare for dinner with my husband, reading restaurant reviews in the newspaper, not to mention the stacks of culinary magazines and e-blasts I subscribe to (actually, I do have other interests but yes, I am a passionate foodie and obviously a bit obsessed). I look forward with great anticipation to every meal, rarely ever missing one, but how often do I truly focus on what I’m eating? Take time to savor the flavors, textures, aromas, colors of the food? Reading Elyce Neuhauser’s article “Conscious Consumption,” has made a huge impact on how I perceive what I consume, and how much attention I give to what I’ve invested so much time thinking about in anticipation of ingesting. I hope you find her story as enlightening as I do.

When you think about it, food represents so much more than simply sustenance. Which brings us back to Mom. I learned my love of food and cooking from her, and associate so many good memories of spending time in the kitchen watching and helping her cook. In our household, we always had dinner together as a family, and now that we kids are all grown, so many of our family get-togethers (well, nearly all of them) revolve around breaking bread. Food is one of the things that bonds us together, so it only makes sense to take a breath and take the time to savor the moment, the memories, the people, and the sensations associated with eating.

Happy Mother’s Day and bon appetit to you all!

Diana