Mindful Eating
Mindful eating is a practice of becoming intentional about what you eat: using all of your physical and emotional senses to experience and enjoy the food choices you make.
Mindful eating encourages you to drill down into the experience of eating: getting present with it, feeling grateful for it, and noticing and encouraging food choices that are satisfying and nourishing for your body.
✨ How to Practice✨
Mindful Eating Considers the wider spectrum of the meal: where the food came from, how it was prepared, and who prepared it.
When you sit down to eat, before having your first bite, take a moment to be mindful about the wider spectrum of the meal.
As an added bonus and important boost to your well-being, express gratitude for everyone involved in preparing this meal and bringing it to your table (the cook/chef, farmers, grocers, etc.)
Mindful Eating Notices internal and external cues that affect how much we eat
As you eat, notice if you are distracted by thoughts, sights, sounds, etc and bring your focus back to your meal.
Being fully present means you will be more mindful about only eating when you are hungry, stopping when you are full, and chewing each bite well so your body can digest more effectively.
Mindful Eating Notices how the food looks, tastes, smells and feels in our bodies as we eat
The different textures and flavors, and smells and aromas of food and beverages amplify our joy in imbibing them, which affects our mood, health, and well-being.
Getting this mindful about every aspect and detail of our food makes us more mindful people in every area of life
Mindful Eating Acknowledges how the body feels after eating the meal
Take the time to be mindful about how you feel after a meal. Is your mouth itchy? You may have an allergy to something. Is your stomach cramping or bloated? You might need a probiotic. Do you feel energized and clear? That food agrees with you!
Noticing how the body feels helps us get important feedback (“biofeedback”) on what food choices are optimal, and which ones to avoid.
Mindful Eating Reflects on how our food choices affect our local and global environment
Certain foods contribute to negative environmental impact, while others are more supportive. Reflect on this as you shop for groceries, and get mindful about the most nourishing choices, not just for you, but for the environment as a whole.
A plant-based diets is healthier for you and the planet; consider supporting small businesses / farmers in the area; fresh foods are more nutrient-dense and therefore healthier for your body.
Mindfulness
Matters
Mindfulness Matters
“You are what you eat.”
— Anthelme Brillat-Savarin