There has become an over-reliance these days on diet books and crazy eating plans to tell us what to eat and when. If we are not following the advice of the latest fad diet, or trying to stick to a meal plan, it leads to mindlessly eating, as I talk about in this post on the dieting mentality. This might mean stuffing food into our mouths while on the go or when engaged in some other kind of activity, just for the sake of eating.
The pleasure of eating and enjoying food seems to have disappeared, so that instead of slowing down to enjoy all there is about the food we will eat, we eat without even taking note of a single taste, smell, texture or other sensation. This in turn leaves us feeling unsatisfied and then looking for more to eat to meet the craving that hasn’t yet been met.
Our instincts have faded and are hiding so deeply within us that we have lost the ability to know what to eat for our bodies to be balanced and healthy, and we are feeling more confused than ever.
My clients come to me feeling off-balance, and totally at a loss about knowing what is good for them and what is not. We have lost the art of eating intuitively, of being able to tune into our body’s innate wisdom to know what to eat and when.
The good news is, it is totally possible to become a more mindful and conscious eater, but it does take practice and the need to focus in order for it to become a natural thing to do every time you eat.
To practice mindful eating, you need to explore the following while you eat. I recommend creating a space where you can totally relax in peace and quiet, without distractions (yep, that means turning off the TV and not being tempted to flick through a magazine!). I want you to devote all your attention to the food on your plate. Only then can you begin to tune in to how the food makes you feel when you eat it and start to tap back into the ancient wisdom that lies dormant within you. This activity should also be fun!
