Somewhere along the way we stopped having full awareness of how and what we eat. Maybe convenience has become more important, just grabbing a handful of anything to get by until the next meal. Then at some point we feel peckish - under the impression we hadn’t eaten anything, so we overdo it at the next mealtime and maybe make the wrong choices or overeat.
Living in a prosperous society means that you can choose every day how you want to fuel yourself. Slowing down and practicing mindful eating could help your health in so many ways. Chewing and breaking down the food without overwhelming the gut will improve digestion, this could reduce uncomfortable bloating after eating. Eating slowly improves satiety, so it helps to maintain a healthy weight or lose weight.
By pausing the day to sit down and eat with awareness you could reduce the stress commonplace in modern life. Aim to take at least 20minutes for each meal. You might find that this helps to reduce mindless snacking or binge eating, as you’ll finish your meals with a greater level of satisfaction. Keeping a food diary can also help mindfulness around food. At least until you’ve forged some new, healthier habits.
Social gatherings and events can lead to some mindless snacking. Just accepting that you may be in a position of eating something unplanned, is going to improve your relationship to food. Accept it and then plan what you’re going to do. You can write down what you eat to keep yourself accountable. Enjoy whatever it is you eat but remember to chew, slow down and eat mindfully.
