Discover 7 Ways to Eat Mindfully

The Gene Smart Team7383 Views412 Comments

Discover 7 Ways to Eat Mindfully

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

(quote from the 1986 movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)

Did you know that when it comes to eating, the act of stopping and looking around helps you make better choices?

Mindfulness is the practice of being intentionally aware of all of your senses all of the time.

Practicing mindfulness will help you to make healthier choices, avoid overeating, appreciate the full experience of your meals, and live life more fully!

Mindfulness has many benefits; however, doing it well takes practice. Here are seven techniques to help you discover the art of mindful eating…

Why do we need to Practice Mindfulness?

We live in an over-stimulated society. Every day we are bombarded with more data than our minds can process. In response to this overstimulation, our brains go on autopilot, using routines and shortcuts to reduce data overload and streamline decision-making.

By practicing mindfulness, we turn off our autopilot, and that allows us to fully live in each moment and make more intentional choices.

The goal of mindfulness is not to judge, but simply to be aware.

Seven Mindful Eating Practices:

Why are you eating? Before you eat, ask yourself why. Are you really hungry? Or are you eating because your mind is bored, stressed, dealing with an emotional issue, or because the clock says its time to eat.
Be Present. Turn off the TV and computer. Don’t eat in the car. Avoid multi-tasking. Sit down and simply enjoy your food.
Are you thirsty? Our minds can confuse dehydration with hunger. If you aren’t sure whether you are thirsty or hungry, drink a glass of water, wait 15 minutes and then check in with yourself again.
Breath. Before you eat, take several slow breaths. Breathe in through your nose, count to five, and then exhale from your mouth for a count of five. Repeat five times. Slow, controlled breathing can help you transition from whatever you were doing, and into the present moment.
Practice gratitude. Giving thanks for the source of your food creates deeper awareness & appreciation. Give thanks for the farm, the farmer, the trucks that moved it, the store where you bought it, the person who prepared it, the attributes of the food itself, how it will nourish your body, etc.
Eat slowly. Relax. What does your food smell like? Notice the colors. As you take a bite, what does it feel like on your tongue? Chew slowly. Notice the textures & flavors. Swallow. What does it feel like in your throat? With our anti-inflammatory diet you can enjoy a wide range of mouth-watering foods with amazing sensory properties!
Check-in during the meal. Stop half way through your meal and check-in with yourself. Are you still hungry? When you are 80% full, stop eating. Save the leftovers for another meal.

Eating mindfully is a great way to eat healthier and avoid overeating. And, being intentionally aware of all of your senses all of the time is a great way to live more fully in every area of your life, everyday!

Give it a Try!

Pick one or more of these techniques to try this week. Afterward, reflect on how it worked. Did it change the way you experienced your meal? Did you enjoy your meal differently? Did you make healthier choices?

Post a note on our Facebook wall and let us know how it went!