I learned about mindful eating years ago. The first time I read about it, I thought there was absolutely no way I could do this. I come from a family of fast eaters. No mindfulness was used at our table growing up. Imagine sitting at dinner and everyone’s mouth going a mile a minute. The moment the food hits the table, everyone shuts up, and all you can hear was the smacking of gums. Sort of like what a hog farm would sound like. It was ridiculous, and even today, I’m surprised no one choked out on their food.
I still practice this challenge regularly. Old habits die hard, so when this girl is hungry, it’s usually a few bites in before I catch myself, not being mindful when I eat.
When you get good at eating mindfully, it will be like having an orgasm in your mouth.
You may find that some foods you’ve always eaten aren’t that great, after all. Then there will be others. Let me tell you about the others; it feels like a five-piece orchestra is playing every beautiful melody ever written with each bite.
As if that wouldn’t be enough, mindful eating offers other benefits. With regular practice and listening to your body when it’s full, it will help you to lose weight. If you have issues with digestion, this will help with that too.
So how do you mindfully eat? I’m not sure how the gurus do it, but this is how I’m challenging you to do it:
Prepare a home-cooked meal. While you are cooking, think about the person who grew this food for you and be grateful to them. Their hard work has given you a meal to eat.
If I lost you at home-cooked, then I guess you could do take-out or restaurant food. You may not get the full enjoyment out of the experience, but hey, someone had to make that meal with love, right? Send out some good vibes to the person who prepared the dish for you.
Sit at a table. Place your meal in front of you on the table. Make sure to clear off any clutter and turn off all electronic devices (even the phone).
Give thanks. Someone cooked this meal for you, send them love and gratitude. If you cooked the meal, be grateful that you know how to cook and show yourself some love.
Smell the aroma. I mean, take it in. What different scents do you notice? Do you like them, or do they not smell appealing to you?
Take a bite. Close your eyes, and let the food sit on your tongue for a moment. What spices do you immediately sense? How do those flavors feel to you?
Continue to chew. Savor every bit of flavor you can as you slowly eat your food. Swallow your food and repeat it. Remember to pay close attention to your body and stop when you feel satisfied.
Remember to write down what you noticed and loved that you ate and what you didn’t. Leave a comment on your experience with this challenge.
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