Mindful Eating Tips
May 02, 2023Building 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!
Do you find yourself eating for every other reason than being physically hungry? Do you find that food is the thing that gives you courage and comfort when nothing else can? The thing is, in order to change any habit, you have to be aware of what the habit is that you want to change.
Do you struggle with eating emotionally? Getting the mindset right is the hardest thing. Figuring out the why around emotional eating is key. When you have your mindset right, your food and your life will follow.
Unpacking the "layers of stuck" in your mind will set you on a path to emotional eating freedom.
This workbook will help you develop a healthier relationship with food by identifying triggers to emotional eating and help to develop healthier coping mechanisms so that you can learn to live your life with food.
Click the button below to get your copy of the workbook.