Here is another Monday post in the series on how to start a healthy lifestyle. In this post I will explain Mindful Eating and all of it's amazing benefits.
Mindful Eating means feeding your body wholesome foods to fuel both your body and soul. Research shows that mindful eating helps with the development of healthy weight management and maintainable eating habits. It helps us make long-term improvements in our health, as well as improve our psychological well-being. In my opinion, mindful eating is one of the corner stones in living a healthy lifestyle.
The practice of mindfulness is to be fully present and aware of the moment you are experiencing. Mindful Eating is to practice a complete focus on what you are eating, awareness of thoughts and emotions, and feeling gratitude for the food you have been given.
Mindful Eating guides us to nourishing our bodies with energy and fueling it with healthy foods. You will start to see food in a positive light instead of associate food with negative emotions. Mindful Eating also teaches us to trust our bodies to tell us when and what to eat in order to feel our best.
The benefits of Mindful Eating
- Mindless eating creates a healthy relationship with foods
- It will help you develop healthy habits
- You will learn how to appreciate and enjoy the taste and flavors of healthy foods
- It will ensure you fuel your body with healthy foods
- You will become aware of the emotions around eating and food
- You will become more thankful
Mindful eating helps us move away from
- Mindless eating of processed foods
- Overeating and binge eating
- Feeling guilty about eating and food
- Dieting
- Focusing on our weight
How to start practicing Mindful Eating
1. Be aware of your body
Throughout the day, be aware of your energy levels and mood. Are you really hungry, or are you stressed or frustrated? Thirst can also be mistaken for hunger. By being aware of your feelings and energy you will start to learn when you are really hungry.
2. Prepare your meals
Plan your meals in advanced and cook your own meals using real wholesome ingredients. Focus on the act of cooking- even the simple act of slicing and stirring can be relaxing. Pay attention to and enjoy the aromas. The result will be a delicious meal for you to sit down and enjoy.
3. Slow down
Sit down for every meal. Take your time to eat, chewing your food slowly and enjoy every bite. Organize your day and manage your time to ensure you have an established meal time, without feeling rushed. If you don't have the time to eat every meal mindfully, start off by choosing one or two meals a week to do it.
4. Focus on your food
enjoy Before you start eating, clear your mind and take a moment to be grateful. Take your time to eat; chewing your food slowly, enjoy and notice all the flavors. Visualize how the food is giving every cell in your body energy and nutrients
5. Love yourself
Be kind to yourself and your body. Love your body, and show your love by eating the rights foods.
Namaste.
