- Robena
Are you a distracted eater?
Personally, I can’t remember the last time I sat down to eat and just…ate. Just the thought of it almost seems awkward. And dare I say, boring?
Whether I’m watching a television show, working on my computer, scrolling on my phone, or texting someone, eating seems to always be a side entertainment to my main task at hand. I wouldn’t say that I eat mindlessly per se. It’s more that I’m…distracted.
Hi, I’m Robena and I’m a distracted eater.
Are you in the same boat?
The way the world is, there’s a lot of pressure to be “on” all the time. We have to be super productive, respond to people right away, and stay on top of the latest whatever. This means that eating tends to fall lower on our list of priorities and we end up scarfing down food, hardly even realizing we ate. The problem with eating quickly is that it actually takes our bodies about 20 minutes to communicate to us that it’s full and satisfied. So oftentimes, we eat past comfortable fullness before we even have a chance to realize it.
Mindful eating means that we focus on the actual eating experience.
It means we start to actually notice and appreciate the aromas, textures, and flavours, while simultaneously getting back in tune with our hunger and satiety cues.
It means that eating becomes a more intentional experience.
Here are some tips on how to incorporate more mindful eating into your day:
Eat slowly and chew thoroughly. Don’t rush the meal.
Turn the TV off, put away your laptop, and move that phone away from arms-reach.
Eat in silence and really pay attention to how the food makes you feel.
I’ll be honest. In this day and age, those tips seem a little…unreasonable?
I feel you.
My suggestion is to just try one meal a day like that. Or even one snack. Pick the feeding period where you tend to feel the calmest and least stressed. For me, it would be breakfast, before the hustle and bustle of the day has really had a chance to set in.
Mindful eating allows you to get back in touch with your body’s signals. It creates awareness around your habits and triggers, and can help you make positive changes!
Stay nourished my friends,
Robena