Chant this Mantra Before Taking Food:
Brahmaarpanam brahma havih
Brahmaagnau brahmanaahutam
Brahmaiva tena gantavyam
Brahma karma samaadhina
Sanskrit to English Word Meaning:
Brahma- The Supreme Lord; arpanam- offering; Brahma- The Supreme Lord;
havih- clarified butter (offered in in the fire); agni- fire; brahmanahutam- by
Brahman in to the fire; brahmaiva- Brahman will only be; tena- by the one;
gantavyam- realized/attained; Brahma karma samadhina- considering everything as an act (karma) of Brahman.
Meaning:
Brahman is the oblation (fire sacrifice). Brahman is the ghee (clarified butter, used in a fire sacrifice) The oblation is poured by Brahman into the fire of Brahman. Brahman shall be realized by the one who considers everything as (a manifestation or) an act of Brahman.
Brief Explanation:
It is customary to offer food before eating to God and chant this shloka. The shloka draws a parallel between the sacrificial fire (yagna) and the fire of hunger. In essence, the meaning conveyed by the act of chanting the shloka and by partaking food is as follows: „Dear Lord You provide this food, you are the taster of this food and you‟re food. I take this food as a gift from you and I offer this food at your divine lotus feet.‟