Have you ever finished your meal and wondered what you had just eaten?  Our busy schedules often mean eating on the run with little thought to the quality or quantity of what we are putting in our bodies. Eating is a natural and healthy activity and one of the necessities of life. From an early age we were trained to eat at particular times in the day.  We learned to eat when:

• We are unhappy,
• We are bored
• Out of habit or
• Because we were taught to always clear the plate

As a result of Mindless Eating we have forgotten to respond to hunger, which contributes to weight gain and eating disorders.

What is Mindful Eating?

Mindful eating is about what you eat, not what you don’t eat. The technique of Mindful Eating has been used in a number of weight loss trials and can help to control overeating and binge eating. Mindful eating is about taking time to enjoy what you are eating. It helps you to enjoy our food more and become more aware of your body’s internal hunger and satiety levels. Mindful eating is being aware of the present moment and using your senses to eat.

How do I eat Mindfully?

• Be mindful of your choices of food. Making unhealthy food choices is often a habit that started early in life. Choose food that is both enjoyable to eat and nourishing to your body.
• Stop everything and take time to eat. Sit down when you eat and avoid reading the newspaper, checking emails on your iPad or watching television. Distractions while you are eating often interfere with feeling satisfied.
• Before starting to eat take a moment to take a few breaths and appreciate what you are eating.  This will give a chance to reduce mind chatter and enjoy the sensation of eating.
• Eat slowly and taste your food. Taking time to chew food completely allows your body to recognise when it is full. Take time to think about the taste, feel, smell and sight of the food you are eating. You are more likely to enjoy what you are eating and will be less likely to overeat.
• Be aware of your physical hunger and satiety cues and let this guide your decisions to start and stop eating.

Why should I try Mindful Eating?

• Mindful eating can help you to control overeating and binge eating.
• It may help you to acknowledge the difference between the feeling of satiety, feeling hungry or just simply confusing hunger with thirst.
• Being mindful when you are eating, also helps you to slow down and digest your food better.
• This gives your brain a chance to process what you are eating and to become more aware of when you are satisfied.

Article by Janne Ramsay | Naturopath