SIMPLE WAYS TO PRACTICE MINDFUL EATING

• April 21, 2017
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I want you think back to a time when you indulged in a dish where you can still remember the textures of the foods you ate, the aroma, and the taste of each bite you took. Perhaps you can still recall where you were enjoyed this dish, who you were with and what you were wearing. If you were able to recall the details of that moment, you practiced mindful eating. You were able to connect with your senses and bridge the gap between mind and body. Eating as “mindfully” as we would like to all the time can prove difficult with busy schedules, short lunch breaks and distractions that seem to take the place of us eating with intent. Below are a few ways to discern you from mindless eating — where one puts food in their mouth unconsciously, not really tasting the food or making the connection — and get you back on track to forming better eating habits.

Slow Down
“Slow down when you eat.” I imagine this is one of the many things we learned from our grandmother along with eat with your mouth closed, chew your food, sit at the table and sit up straight. It should be no surprise that all of this advice, when applied, can actually help your mind and body communicate better while processing signals pertaining to food. Slowing down when you eat gives your brain time to catch up with your belly in letting you know what to stop.

Don’t Wait Until You’re on E
It’s unrealistic to plan your food down to every bite and it’s important to be flexible — but it’s also important to make sure your body is getting what it needs when it needs it. We all have different eating habits and you should spend some time establishing yours. For example, if you’re a morning person and you know you’ll be starving by 8am, make sure you either have some healthy snacks to tide you over until you’re able to eat or make sure you have a meal planned or breakfast scheduled to fuel up. Letting your body hit empty kicks more than just your mood out of whack.
Just as if you were to plan coffee dates with friends or carve out an hour for the yoga — pencil in your meals! It’ll seem silly in the beginning but you’ll thank yourself later when you’re not hangry at your next meeting, or hating yourself for picking up fast food. Setting aside that time for yourself also allows you the opportunity to eat calmly and mindfully. Who wants to rush through a meal, eat out of a plastic container or in their car? No — give yourself and your body that time to enjoy and properly process it’s meal. Smell the aroma, taste the flavors, and enjoy each bite. Eat with gratitude.

Pay Attention to Me
We all claim to be phenomenal multitaskers but the reality is — there is no such thing. If you’re multitasking that just means you’re performing multiple tasks at the same time, not really giving your full attention to any of them and trying to get it done without error. Eating is no different. When you eat, you should be giving your full attention to your food and your body. Listening to what it wants more or less of, when it’s full, when to stop; and as we learned in a previous blog — when we eat happy or really enjoy the foods we’re eating, it jump starts our Metabolic Powers, creating a well oiled machine for a faster metabolism, digesting, assimilating nutrients and burning calories faster. Vroom – Vroom So put down your phone, turn off the TV and give your attention to your food and your belly.

Be Grateful
Some days are awesome right out the gate and others not too much but food should always make us smile and be considered small victories in the day. It’s the simple things right? Whether you’re snacking on some almonds or pulling out a freshly baked fish from the oven — take a moment and be thankful. You will find that by expressing this small gratitude you will open your senses to fulling being able to experience your food, create awareness in your body, bridging the the gap between your body and soul.

There you have it. Mindful eating is no nothing more than being present while you eat. A practice in active meditation if you will. Instead of just eating to eat, or mindless eating, you make the effort to connect with your food, your surrounds, your senses and your feelings. Positive mindful eating habits include pacing yourself while you eat, staying in tune with your body and knowing what it wants when it wants it and knowing that our body has its own relationship with food.

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