With the increased buzz around better eating habits and healthier lifestyle choices, ,we hear of a new fad taking over the world every other day. And while many new concepts are floating around, what’s good is that among them, some have proven to show real health benefits. Just like “mindful eating.”
Unsplash | Mindful eating is a method that encourages you to deal with your dietary patterns in a healthier way
Mindful eating is a method that encourages you to deal with your dietary patterns more healthily. Among the people who practice it, the technique has shown great results in weight reduction, reduced junk-food addiction, and an overall feeling of wellbeing.
Join us as we introduce you to the best aspects of this diet strategy.
What is Mindful Eating?
The mere mention of the term “mindful” eating makes you correlate the diet strategy with consciousness. And it’s exactly that – keeping a close eye on the food and drink you consume.
The concept includes observing how your food makes you feel and the signs your body sends concerning taste, fulfillment, and totality. Many of us rush eating because of our bustling schedules. But what we don’t realize is that it affects our bodies since we don’t acknowledge how much we’re stuffing in. We often eat for reasons other than hunger – to fulfill feelings, ease the pressure, nervousness, etc. This is why mindful eating is important.
Mindful eating includes:
- Eating gradually and without interruption
- Eating just until you're full
- Recognizing genuine hunger
- Figuring out how to adapt to food anxiety
- Eating only for the wellbeing
- Seeing the impacts food has on our sentiments
- Valuing food
Unsplash | It involves observing how food makes you feel and the signs your body sends with respect to taste, fulfillment, and totality
Ways to practice mindful eating
Multitasking is good, but did you know that reading or looking at your phone as you eat hampers your “eating time”? Here’s how you can flip the coin and change your habit.
- Burgers, pizzas, and other restaurant-style delicacies may make you salivate, but in the long run, it’s best to stick with homemade fresh food since it’s healthier.
Read – Organic Foods: What You Need to Know
- Eat at places that don’t distract you. If you’re with a friend at a restaurant, yes, distractions are possible; but what’s on the plate matters too! Also, make sure you sit in the right posture not to put pressure on your digestion.
- Analyze how hungry you actually are. Are you in need or want of food? There’s a difference. If you’re simply craving junk, carefully mind it and stop the feeling.
Read – The Best Way to Tell If You're Actually Hungry
- Appreciate the food in front of you by looking at its texture, ingredients, and other aspects. It will engage your attention while eating.
- Focus on your emotions while eating. Are you feeling the burst of flavor? Are you getting full? These questions will keep you in place and not rush eating.
Unsplash | Focusing on the food's texture, aroma, and flavor you experience with every bite will improve your satiety and help you feel more satisfied
Wrapping it up
Always try to consider what you’re putting inside your body closely. The food we eat has the power to control our weight and health and our mood and temperament. So read up some more on mindful eating, and start practicing it soon.