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Mindful eating is the process of being in the moment while you eat. Many of us can have the tendency to eat too quickly without even stopping to really taste our food. This means that eating can become just another chore that you have to do. You then want to get it over as quickly as possible, which just continues the cycle. That can lead to not eating healthily or eating too much because you’re not really paying attention. Mindful eating can change that, making sure you’re really focusing on what you’re eating and taking time to enjoy it. Here’s how you can eat more mindfully.
Time Your Meals Correctly
Eating at the right time is one of the small ways you can eat more mindfully. It’s important that you have an appetite when you eat your meals, rather than just eating when you think you should. However, it’s equally important that you’re not famished because being extra hungry could mean you just wolf down your food without really tasting it. If it helps, you might prefer to have more frequent but smaller meals throughout the day instead of sticking to three big meals. It could encourage you to eat slower too.
Use All Your Senses
When you’re eating, try to use all of your senses to enjoy the experience. Smell your food before you eat it, feel the texture of it when you cut it up and chew it, and taste it on the tongue. You can even hear the sounds that your food makes, as well as take it in with your eyes. Eating in this way can help you to eat more slowly and to really pay attention to what you’re eating. Every mouthful can be an experience that you enjoy when you really concentrate on what you’re eating and drinking.
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Enjoy the Process of Making and Consuming
Both the process of making your food and drink and eating or drinking it can be enjoyable. Spending some time on cooking, baking, or even making a drink can make the experience of consuming it better too. Try this out by buying the best ceremonial cacao you can find and taking your time both making it and drinking it. You can do this with lots of other things too, from tea and coffee to bread or any meal you feel like making. The whole process can help you appreciate what you eat and drink more.
Take Your Time
The most important thing to remember if you want to be mindful when you’re eating and drinking is to take your time. Let yourself enjoy each bite, chew more, and make an effort to really slow down. Talking to other people while you’re eating can definitely help you to slow down, so make your mealtimes a social occasion too. When you share food with others, it can encourage you to pay attention to it and talk about it too.
Mindful eating could improve your digestion and your diet. Think more carefully about what you eat and how you eat it.