Mindful Eating Tips
May 02, 2023
Building a nourishing relationship with food is as much, if not more, about how you eat than what you eat!
Mindful eating means eating with intention or purpose - in particular, to nourish both body and mind - and paying attention to current eating habits in the moment, without judgement.
Here are some mindful eating tips:
Tune In -
- Identify emotions before, during, and after meals.
- Rate physical hunger levels before, during, and after meals.
- Think about food qualities that would satisfy your body and taste buds.
Stay Present -
- Connect to your breath.
- Eat in silence, or with relaxing music.
- Focus only on eating. Make it a distraction free zone.
Slow Down -
- Add "speed bumps" - e.g., take an eating break, or get up to use the restroom.
- Chew more
- Choose a different utensil, or switch hands.
- Find a seat.
- Have a "slow eating" competition.
- Incorporate rituals
- Take a few deep breaths to center yourself before the meal.
Engage the Senses -
- Do a quick body scan before, during, and after meals.
- Focus on the process of eating - cutting, chewing, etc.
- Incorporate a wide variety of foods.
- Pay attention to the smells, flavors, textures, sounds, and even temperatures.
- Think about food qualities that would satisfy your body and taste buds.
Choose one or more of these tips from each category and pay attention to how your mindset changes around food.
Choose to eat your next meal with intention and purpose.
Remember to...Take Care of You!
