Mindful Eating
Many of us eat the same way as we do so much else in life - mindlessly. When working, driving or walking… sometimes we barely taste our food. While this may be partly because we're busy, there are other reasons why we eat mindlessly.
Many of us also have a complex relationship with food. Some of us eat to self-soothe, then find ourselves overeating even when not hungry. Some of us are on perpetual diets, making eating an activity-filled with stress, guilt and shame. Regardless of the scenario, the problem isn't food. Rather, it is our RELATIONSHIP with food. The good news is that we can improve that relationship through mindfulness.
What is Mindfulness?
Being mindful means paying attention to the present moment in a purposeful and non-judgemental way. When applied to eating, we can free ourselves from unhealthy eating habits and enhance our overall quality of life.
How does Mindful Eating work?
When we eat mindfully we are fully attentive and engaged. Our senses are open and heightened which allows us to entirely experience our food. We pay attention to the textures, colours, sounds, aromas and flavours. The result? We enjoy the taste of our food much more!
Being mindful also helps us understand the emotions and circumstances that trigger our impulses to eat. We better recognise how full or satiated we are before, during and after eating so we are less likely to over- or under-consume. In addition, mindful eating means that we are not bringing judgement to the table or responding to our actions with self-criticism and shame. Rather, we do so with curiosity and self-compassion.
So the next time you sit down to a meal, I invite you to practice mindful eating. Open your senses, eat slowly and fully taste each bite. Bring your full awareness to the experience as well as kindness and non-judgement and see how your relationship with food begins to change.
“When we learn to eat mindfully, our eating can be transformed from a source of suffering to a source of renewal, self-understanding and delight” ~Jan Chozen Bays