Most of us love food and enjoy eating. We turn to food not only for nourishment, but also for celebration, social connection, and emotional comfort. Food and eating encompass such a huge part of our lives, but how often are we actually aware and attentive of what and how we are eating?
Mindful eating, as the name suggests, involves integrating mindfulness, or nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment, into all aspects of eating. On a basic level, it means bringing an attentiveness and wakefulness to the following:
What we eat: Being aware of what we are craving for before we even reach for the food, and when we are putting the food in our mouth, recognizing that this is what we choosing to do, and whether that aligns with our stated goals and values.
How we prepare the food: Being mindful through the process of food preparation, taking the time to wash and chop the food, connecting with all the sensory information coming through as we cook the food – smells, sounds, sights, touch. And of course, being aware of the dimension of time and when to to stir the food or remove the food from the pan/oven.
How we eat: Many of us eat mindlessly, gobbling food down as quickly as we can, even when we are not necessarily under a time constraint. Rapid eating also makes us less likely to truly taste and savor the food. So, mindful eating means slowing down and taking the time to truly taste each bite. Feel the texture of the food, chew it thoroughly, and experience all the nuances of the tastes.
How the food makes us feel: Sometimes we have an attachment to a type of food or drink that is more emotional/intellectual than physical. We enjoy the idea of consuming it more than our body actually enjoys it. When we truly pay attention how our body feels when we consume a particular food or drink, we can listen to what our body is telling us about how helpful or damaging this food or drink is. Similarly, being aware of how we feel after eating also gives us information about whether the food was truly helpful for our body and mind.
As we bring mindful awareness to the above, we can do so in a nonjudgmental way. We don’t have to judge ourselves for making certain choices about food or for eating a certain way. All we have to do is notice. Simply observe the process with nonjudgment. Over time, this awareness will wake us up to what we truly need. Then, the appropriate choices will follow, moment by moment by moment.
Mindfulness FAQ 