How Mindful Eating Can Change Your Food Habits and Life

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A lot of people don’t eat mindfully. They eat mindlessly, without really paying attention to what they’re eating. They eat on the go, they snack mindlessly, they eat while watching TV or checking their social media.

Mindful eating means taking 10 minutes to eat a meal or a snack. It means eating slowly, without distractions. It means paying attention to your hunger and fullness cues. When you eat mindfully, you get more pleasure out of food. You eat less but feel fuller longer.

Mindful eating is good for your waistline and your health. It can lead to better digestion. It can help you eat less junk food. It helps minimize stress and helps you cope with it. Mindful eating helps address cravings. Cravings happen when your body is craving nutrients that haven’t been getting through your diet. But cravings aren’t always bad. Sometimes, they’re telling you to eat certain foods because they contain nutrients you need. When you eat mindfully, you’re more aware of when your body is craving food, so it’s easier to identify a craving for what it is and to ignore it.

Here’s how to start eating more mindfully:

Start by eating a healthy snack.
Snacking often can sabotage your diet plan. Having one or two unhealthy snacks a day can sabotage your diet even if you don’t overdo it with the rest of your calories. Don’t eat between meals.
When you eat, eat at a table.
Eating in front of a TV or computer screen makes it harder to focus on your meal. Studies have shown that eating at a table (or standing up) helps control your weight.
Pay close attention to the smell and taste of your food.
Smell and taste are two of the most important senses involved in food enjoyment. Focus on them while eating.