Eating with Intention: Mindful Eating
“Eating with intention while paying attention”
There is always so much discussion about WHAT we eat and far less attention is paid to HOW we eat. Here at Lifebox, we prioritize healthy snacks. However, there is a growing body of research that suggests that our attitudes around meals and our mealtime rituals and practices might just be every bit as important as being considered in what you are actually choosing to put into your mouth.
Mindful or intuitive eating as it is also known stems from ancient Buddhist teachings, aiming to connect us more deeply with the whole experience and enjoyment of eating. It is based upon the idea that there is no right or wrong way to eat but instead varying degrees of consciousness about what we are eating and why. Our friend Laura Thomas PhD once told us to try and sit in a quiet corner with something that you are really looking forward to eating – (for us it was a square of Chilli Lindt Dark Chocolate) and really focus on biting into it, chewing, feeling the textures and bringing your awareness to all the flavours and the whole experience of consuming that food. This challenge really brought a whole new meaning to the term Mindful Eating and I urge you to go and give it a try for yourself.
The object of being mindful around your eating it to base your meals on physical cues such as our body’s own hunger signals rather than emotional ones which many of us are incredibly prone to.
It does not, however, have to be an all or nothing affair and do not in any way put pressure on yourself that it is just another “fad” that you need to try. Perhaps you can aim to incorporate little morsels of it into your everyday life and see if you notice a difference. Trying to find ways of slowing down your eating and truly eating with intention rather than just wolfing something down in a rush to make your next meeting or appointment…we personally feel that it is an essential part of any healthy lifestyle and can help edge you towards a good healthy relationship with food. Have a read of our healthy hacks for a few little tips to get you started!
Eat slowly
Take time to really savour each mouthful. This means you are more likely to notice when you are full and also aids the digestive process too!
Pay attention to flavour
Taking a little more time to observe the individual flavours of your food can be a great way to start eating with your mind a little more.
Prepare your meals from scratch
Knowing how the food we are eating is produced and the flavours and ingredients that have gone into making your meal delicious can really help in the process
Try and avoid skipping meals
This can make it harder to make considered food choices when you are ravenous and may lead to just grabbing whatever you can. Try and set aside time in your daily routine for regular mealtimes where you can totally stop what you are doing and put your full attention into that mealtime. Its an incredible break from work too and helps get some “you time” in the crazy headspace called LiFE that tends to consume.
