Mindful Eating
Do you think about the food you eat? Like, really think about it…
Where did it come from? How was it prepared? What are the flavors and textures involved in each bite? How do I feel after eating this food?
When we take a moment to pause and connect with our food we begin to engage in what is called "Mindful Eating"
Bringing awareness to the table significantly influences the impact of the food we are consuming. By consciously deciding with what and how we nourish our bodies we regain a level of appreciation and control over that which fuels us on a day to day basis.
Mindful Eating can be done in a variety of ways, below we list a few options to get that connection between you and your food fired up:
Locally sourcing our foods, not only do you get the freshest produce but we also support the farmers in our community
Build a relationship with the food by personally preparing your meals: knowing exactly what is used, having fun experimenting, bring in family & friends
Engage the senses! We can easily achieve this by avoiding watching television/content while eating. Focusing on the aromas, flavors, and textures of the meal while allow us to slow down our pace and aid our digestion.
Choosing foods that best serve our bodies. This could be done personally by food logging and highlighting foods that may slow you down and/or cause irregularities or professionally by taking a food sensitivity test. The right foods provide our unique bodies with the most nutrients.
Next time hunger begins to rise, let's think of these simple ways in which we can approach our next meal in a more mindful and aware way.
Author: Beto Vega