Can’t get on with your meals till you have found the perfect movie or episode? Do you rush through your meals because there is that mail to respond to or that deadline to meet? Well, we’ve all been guilty of it at one point or more. The little joys of life are often overlooked in the pursuit of ‘more important’ goals we set for ourselves.
Let’s talk the simplest joy and the most fundamental building block of life—Food. It’s time we rethink the way we approach health, boundaries, and balance.
Mindfulness: From ‘Doing’ to ‘Being’
Modern lifestyles are becoming increasingly infamous for a culture of ‘half awakeness’. We go through our day glued to our screens—anticipating that one email we might miss out, that one call we must take, a new episode we must catch up on before the madness and chaos of the day takes over, just one last reel before we put down our phones…the digital world almost always seems to be more rewarding or easier to navigate than the one we live in.
The problem is, the more we turn away from our environment to easier sources of gratification, the harder it becomes for us to recognise and seek happiness from the little, seemingly mundane experiences.
Ever think of how different our day (and eventually our life) could turn out to be if we could just be present in the moment? Mindfulness is the ability to be purposefully ‘present’ in the moment and perceptive of our surroundings. Instead of ‘reacting’ by constantly judging our actions and stressing on the ‘doing’, mindfulness takes you to ‘being’. Think of it as a sensory reset. The goal is to respond (instead of react) to what life sends our way with a clearer comprehension, calmness, gratitude, and wisdom.
Mindfulness in Eating
Ever felt an unexplained anger or sadness creeping in when you miss your meals? Do you find yourself unable to discern when you’re full or eating at times when you’re bored. Mindless eating and multitasking has become the norm of our times. However, distractions while eating often result in lesser contentment or problematic relationships with food.
Food carries a profound effect on our mood and energy levels. ‘How’ we consume our foods is just as important as what we eat and when we eat. Here are some ways you can apply mindfulness to your eating patterns to derive the most out of your diet:
Trust Your Gut: Trust your ‘gut’, no pun intended. Think of your body as a computer system that communicates with you via notifications—a popup alerting you of a virus invasion or a notification requesting you to update the system. Similarly, years and years of evolution have bestowed our bodies with the ability to recognise what’s good for us and what’s not. Tune into yourself and pay attention to what your body is really asking of you. Your body will signal you when it’s full, the kind of foods that are working for it and those that are not, when it needs rest, and so on. Practise paying heed to these instincts. Work with and not against your body. Eat when you’re hungry, begin with smaller portion sizes and determine what works for you, acknowledge how your body responds to different foods, and most importantly, work closely with nature.
Trusting your gut in no way implies giving into all your cravings. Explore the ‘why’ behind these cravings. For instance, when you’re craving an ice-cream or chocolate, what your body might be asking for is something energising. Sugar is a source of instant energy and even a mood-booster. However, chocolates and ice-creams are not the only sources of sugar; Fruits are excellent alternatives that are not only natural but also more engaging for your senses with unique textures, aromas, and flavours.
No Labelling: As important as it is to make higher quality dietary choices, it is time we let go of judgements on our eating habits. It is crucial to break free from imposing toxic restrictions on what we consume based on extreme categorisation of foods as “good” and “bad”. While you should avoid bingeing on chocolates, try finding a balanced way to include them in your diet (not as a reward food). Remember to be present and savour it fully when you do indulge in one.
Give In To the Sensory Experience: A food connoisseur would be the ideal person to tell you what an absolute experience eating is. Food is so much more than flavour—a holistic experience of colours, textures, and aromas. Since mindful eating is all about being present in the here and now, the practice proposes turning off your screens or any other distractions to better engage with your food. That means no multitasking while you eat. Yes, not even netflixing. Set boundaries between your work and personal needs, do not skip meals, and remember to chew thoroughly—take your meal times as an opportunity to unwind and slow down for a while.
Practice Gratitude: The mindset and energy with which we prepare and consume our meals affects our body as much as the nutritional value of the foods. Negative thoughts while eating affect you adversely while gratitude can enhance the experience. Do not take for granted what you have on your plate and give a moment to reflect on the entire process through which you received it.
Benefits of Mindful Eating
Incorporating mindfulness in your eating habits can aid in improving your relationship with food, deriving more contentment from meals, and an enhanced mind-body connection. In the long run, mindfulness can help you make wiser and healthier dietary choices. Research also suggests that mindful eating can eventually lower stress levels and aid digestion.
What Mindful Eating Is NOT
Approaching Mindful eating as a weight loss strategy would be quite contradictory to what it stands for. Mindful eating is aimed at eliminating the labelling of foods, restrictive diets, and guilt surrounding eating choices. That being said, Mindful eating is not a proven medical treatment for any health conditions or eating disorders.
No wealth or success in the world will ever be worth wagering your health, growth, and peace for. Prioritise your health, set aside some time that is devoted solely to your meals, and observe the changes in your stress and contentment levels. You can further consult a nutritionist or dietician for customising a diet plan to your unique concerns.