Far too often, we overeat and snack for the wrong reasons. We adopt poor eating habits that are tough to break and indulge in mindless food activities such as snacking while watching T.V, emotional eating, and grabbing unhealthy food while on the go. Why do we do this to ourselves? When we are not paying attention, eating poorly becomes second nature. Inevitably, these poor choices will lead to weight gain.
Mindfulness means “pure awareness” and being attentive to what we are eating at all times. Ask yourself, “Am I eating because I am hungry or bored?” Understanding the “why” and knowing the consequences that come along with being inattentive towards food is important to our mental and physical health. In order to change the way we approach eating and mealtimes, we must understand that the human body needs food for fuel and nourishment, not to ease our emotional pain.
The following tips are just a few changes you can make to improve the way you eat.
Helpful Tips for Mindful Eating:
• Get rid of distractions while eating like watching TV, checking email, talking on the phone and eating while on the go.
• Avoid constant snacking. If you feel the need to snack, have fruits and vegetables.
• Savor the taste. Slow down so you can smell, taste and enjoy your food.
• Be aware of your personal triggers and understand the difference between hunger and cravings. Don’t let cravings drive you to eat badly.
• Change your eating style by putting down your fork at least 3-4 times. This simple action will decrease the amount of food you eat.
We must continuously practice mindfulness. Awareness of what we eat will help promote balance and wisdom for a healthier life!
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