mindful eating

As eaters, we often make naive and mindless choices about our own eating. We eat inattentively, for the wrong purposes, and without a sense of power or control.  How often do you think you haven't eaten much for the day - only to discover - that you consumed a WHOLE packet of chips while watching tv, or a packet of biscuits as you were driving too or from work.
Easy food, bad choices, huge consumption, with no focus!

You've been working hard on a project on the computer, and it's time for at treat. You've been holding off, waiting for the delicious taste of - here, please fill in the blank. Coffee ice cream? a piece of dark chocolate? a donut? an onion bagel? some fresh strawberries? For me, it would be a creamy, sweet-sour lemon tart.
You take the first bite. Very yummy! You take the second bite. Still yummy, maybe a little less yummy than the first bite, but never mind. You glance at the computer and something catches your eye. A Hollywood scandal, a political gaff, a weird and wacky video. You click on it, watch, and continue eating.
Disappearing food!
Suddenly you look down. Where did that treat go? Your fingers are sticky and there's still a trace of flavor on your tongue, so it must have disappeared down the hatch while you weren't looking . . . or smelling, or tasting, or enjoying. Disappointment and dissatisfaction set in. "That one just vanished! I'd better have another one." Next the internal critic voice pipes up "What are you thinking? One treat is enough. You know you're trying to lose weight/eat better/stop grazing/etc."

Source

I'm occasionally guilty of that behaviour, myself. Eating totally unconsciously. And ignoring hunger and satiety feelings. Often I use the excuse I am 'multi tasking' - I am getting more done, PLUS, I am eating? Finding time to sit down and eat, can interfere with all that I need to get completed throughout the day!  But if we dont make the food we eat a focus, over time, this lack of skill with eating causes imbalances and many problems - some of which are being overweight or obese.

When we learn to eat mindfully, we correct the imbalances and learn to make good choices naturally. The new skills allow us to recapture and reclaim power over food.

We need to create a mindful approach to attitudes, eating behaviors and portions - regularly. Make sure, each time you sit down to eat, that is your whole focus. Dont be distracted with reading, study, the computer, etc. - where you have no idea how much you eat, nor take any care of what you are actually consuming.
Bringing mindfulness to food and portion choices results in a healthier relationship to all foods and brings more happiness to all aspects of life. It will improve your health and help you to lose weight - plus increase the enjoyment of eating.

How do we change?
Mindful eating starts with your shopping choices and then food preparation.
When out shopping for your groceries - notice the difference in the foods you purchase when you shop hungry or not - when you shop in a hurry or not - when you shop with a list or not. Huge differences? Do you buy more? Do you buy more 'fast' foods? More 'snack' foods - chocolate, biscuits, chips?
Absolutely!
How does your shopping choices then effect your food choices or preparation at home? How does it affect what and how you eat?
Do you purchase food that satisfies on all levels, or do you choose and prepare food that leaves you feeling like something is missing and you want more?

• Plan your weekly meals. Shop with a list. ONLY get what is on the list.
• Never shop when hungry.
• Choose to buy and eat nutrient dense foods over packaged foods or fast foods.
• Make your meal time a sit down and special occasion. Even if it's only a snack. Never 'multi- task'.
• Be conscious of every mouthful - enjoy the flavour, the smell, the texture.
• Eat slowly. Enjoy the experience of eating.
• NEVER eat or snack, while - watching TV, reading a book, at your computer.