What is mindful eating you might ask? It’s simpler than you might think. It’s about how you eat the food rather than what you’re actually eating. It’s a Buddhist concept encouraging people to enjoy every detail of your food slowly and judiciously.
Enjoying your food the way your body objectively desires. Not because your emotions want you to (like when you’re crying and dying with ice cream), but because your body wants to. Not scarfing it down like a rat that hasn’t eaten for weeks, but sensually massaging the food to exuberate its yummy goodness.
So why should you eat mindfully? Studies have shown it can help with weight loss, binge eating, and food anxiety overall. Depressed or annoyed by a diet? Mindful eating might be right for you.
Want to know what’s really delicious? Mindful eating doesn’t have to be a lifestyle choice. It also doesn’t involve a mass overhaul and dietary shift. It can be done easily in your day-to-day adventures.
Hungry for more? Here are a few ways to enjoy mindful eating. Dine well!
Take your time. Unless you’re in Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, know that your lunchtime is not a race. Don’t scarf it down and finish your dish one bite at a time. Chew slowly! Remember, the French take two hours for their lunches. They use this time to let their stomachs rest, and to socialize with friends. Remember, Americans are more obese than them!
Appreciate the food. Notice how much one food differs from the rest. Think about the texture, the shape, the color, its origins… Like people, every food is different from the rest. Cooking is an art. Treat it like one.
Drag down distractions. Try eating in silence for the first ten minutes. Let the sounds of the forks and spoons echo in peace! Give your plate you undivided, un-device-ridden attention. You never know what you might realize once your brains is set into “eating mode” instead of “watch mouse slam cat with hammer mode.”
Go for quality over quantity. Big things can come in small packages. The more mindful eating you do, the more you’ll be satisfied with smaller portions. Take the time to make and get the meals that really taste good rather than just going the fast (food) route.
Resources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mindful-eating/200903/mindful-eating-the-french-paradox
https://scu.spoonuniversity.com/live/mindful-eating/
https://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/mindful-eating-5-easy-tips-to-get-started
https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/mindful-eating-may-help-with-weight-loss