Mindful Eating
By Sephirah Stacey Oshkello, MS, RD, CD
Be Your Own Guest
So often we consume without paying attention. We eat on the go, on the couch, in the car...
Mindful eating can bring us back into a state of presence - with our food and with ourselves.
What is mindful eating?
Eating without distractions
Listening to your intuition as to what to eat (distinguished from cravings)
Tuning into hunger and satiation
Finding the right key to manage your emotions
Honoring your body as the temple that it is
Being a compassionate observer
Taking time to receive pleasure from your food
Benefits of mindful eating are numerous, including weight management, decreased stress, and improved health, as well as creating more time for the things that you love.
Ready to be your own guest and give mindful eating a try?*
Choose one time this week when you can eat by yourself.
Set the table with your best silverware, glassware, or dishes. Use cloth napkins and candles.
Serve yourself food that you really like. Make this a special meal, a meal that you would serve to a loved one.
Before you eat, notice the aroma of the food; try to distinguish between one spice and the next. Look at the food. Notice its color.
Take one bite and eat it slowly. Very slowly. How does the taste change as you chew? How does the food feel against the roof of your mouth? On your tongue?
Eat the next bite exactly as you ate the first one, noticing the exquisite combinations of tastes, color and texture.
Eat the meal, enjoying it to the fullest in whatever way feels most pleasurable and comfortable to you.
When you’re finished with the meal, assess how it felt to eat a meal in this way.
If you are interested in scheduling a nutrition counseling session (via telemedicine) with me, please call Sojourns to book an appointment at 802-722-4023.
*Source: Why Weight? A guide to ending compulsive eating. By Geneen Roth