Mindful eating has become a very hot topic nowadays, not just in the health & fitness industry, but also in other related industries. For instance, corporatists and business owners are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of having a healthy diet and enjoying every meal.
According to the specialists from the Harvard University, mindful eating represents the process of noticing the smells, colors, flavors and textures of the food one is eating; getting rid of all distractions; chewing slowly; learning to cope with the negative feelings of guilt and anxiety about food. Mindful eating is a process that improves your life and helps you rediscover the beautiful experience of enjoying the food you eat.
6 Simple Steps To Mindful Eating
Here are a few simple steps to mindful eating to improve your experience at the table:
1. Start By Buying Healthier Foods
Eating healthier starts with making wiser food choices. Mindful eating starts long ago before you sit down to eat. You need to purchase only fresh and healthy foods if you want to leverage the benefits of mindful eating. Choose unprocessed foods and prioritize fruits & veggies, seeds, nuts, meats, fish, beef and diary.
2. Eliminate Distractions
Eating while watching your favorite TV show or while navigating online is called “mindless eating”. Learn to set aside all distractions and start to enjoy every single bite you take.
3. Study the Food On Your Plate
If you are too busy watching TV, you will never be able to appreciate the food you’re eating, and your stomach will follow in your footsteps and won’t like the food you give it. Smell the food on your plate, appreciate its visual qualities and enjoy the mouth-watering aromas.
4. Savor Each Bite
After you have eliminated distractions and you have spent a few seconds studying the appealing food on your plate, try to bring all your senses to the table and start to savor every single bite you take. Chew slowly and think of how delicious the food you’re eating is.
5. Resist The Urge To Eat Dessert
It is definitely not clever to skip your meals and go straight to dessert, or to eat the dessert first. Always eat the foods in proper order: fruits, main course, snacks and dessert.
6. Express Gratitude
Ultimately, acknowledge the time and effort you or someone else has put in preparing the food you’re eating. By realizing this, you are automatically telling your brain that what you eat is valuable. This makes the experience of eating much more valuable.