In the fast paced world we live in, it’s easy to fall into the trap of doing everything as quickly as possible, and feeling proud of ourselves when we shave time off of any activity. There are, however, some things that we really shouldn’t be doing quickly, and eating is one of them.
In today’s fast paced world we tend to multitask including eating on the go or while working. Here are three ways to slow down and be more mindful of your eating.
Mindful eating is listening to your own body’s inner wisdom, and trusting it to steer you in the right direction when it comes to eating right. Although this may seem like the road to failure, it is actually the opposite as we generally are able to make wise and intuitive decisions, yet rarely give ourselves credit for it.
Set the Mood
Few people think of ambiance when it comes to eating their regular meals. We are often more concerned with the basics such as convenience, and sometimes it’s difficult to find the energy to put into something like ambiance that feels like a non-essential.
Set the mood, and try your best to create an atmosphere that you would most enjoy to eat in. Create a great mood by using your fancy set of dinnerware, lighting candles, and playing soft, non-distracting music. The ideas are unending simply choose your favorite setting and create that wonderful place for yourself.
Eat With Purpose
When you choose mindful eating, you are making a decision to give your mealtimes the attention they deserve. One of the best things you can do is to turn away from all distractions and give your full attention to eating.
Before you take a bite, look at your food slowly. Pick some up onto your fork and use your senses to examine it. Smell it and let your hunger grow. Examine its appearance, colors and shape. What do you like best about the food you are about to eat? Describe it silently in your mind.
Decide how full you want to feel when you are done eating. Take a bite of the food slowly and chew it with precision. Do not save your favorite foods for last. Enjoy them first and leave the others for later, so if you decide you are full you will not miss out on them.
Explore the taste, texture, and temperature. Give yourself all the time you need to truly enjoy each bite. Sit down and do not eat on the run. This is your time to enjoy your own personal feast your reward for gathering and preparing this food.
Observe Your Responses
After you have taken a bite, make a mental note about your reaction to it. How do you feel about the taste? What do you like and dislike about it? Is it something you want to eat more of? Something you don’t care for?
If you are enjoying the food, continue to eat slowly. Each time you finish chewing, ask yourself if you truly want another bite. When you are no longer enjoying a certain aspect of the food or you are simply feeling full, make the conscious decision to stop. Note how you feel when you are done.
It might seem like a waste of energy to put all this attention into something as simple as eating food, but in fact the opposite is true. In this busy world, our bodies require a time to rest. Our bodies deserve a time to be at peace and to enjoy one of life’s most basic needs and pleasures, which is food. Honor your body now by giving mindful eating a try, and discover all the benefits it has for your body, mind, and soul.
