In a fast-paced world where meals are often hurried affairs, the concept of mindful eating offers a welcome invitation to slow down and savor each moment. It’s about more than just food—it’s a practice that encourages us to engage fully with our meals, connecting with our senses and cultivating a deeper appreciation for nourishment. At a Mindful eating event at Wagamama, Karly Sarah, wellness entrepreneur introduces us to the principles and benefits of mindful eating, offering practical tips to incorporate this transformative practice into your daily life. Discover how embracing mindful eating can lead to greater well-being, healthier habits, and a renewed sense of connection with the food we eat and the world around us.
Can you explain the concept of mindful eating and its benefits?
Mindful eating is about being truly present before, during and after meal times.
The practice of mindfulness begins before the actual meal when we can take note of our current status and hunger levels. We can take note of our nutrition by reflecting on what we’ve already eaten that day, or what our body may need.
When we’re eating, can we be mindful of our meal and only our meal – without being on the phone, or working etc.?
When we eat slowly and mindfully, we are more aware of what we are consuming and when we have consumed enough. This is also beneficial for our digestion rather than eating quickly under high stress situations.
How does mindful eating differ from traditional approaches to eating and dieting?
Dieting can also be a way to eat mindfully, as we are following some type of plan or guideline and being mindful of adhering to that, but it can often be restrictive, perhaps limiting us from acquiring nutrients or calories that we may need.
Mindful eating is not intentionally meant to be restrictive; it simply teaches us to be present, and pay attention.
What are some practical strategies or techniques for incorporating mindfulness into eating habits?
Mindful eating begins with being present, and tuning in to our senses.
By using sight, smell, taste, tactile abilities, and sometimes even sound (for example, sizzling) it is easy to become more mindful during meal times.
Can mindful eating help with weight management or improving overall health? If so, how?
As mentioned previously, mindful eating can help with tuning in to when we’re actually hungry (and not just eating out of boredom, stress or due to other emotions). It can also allow us to tune in to when we feel full (so we don’t overeat). It can also help us tune in to how food makes us feel – for example, if something makes us feel bloated or inflamed, we may try to avoid those foods in the future.
How does mindfulness impact our relationship with food and eating behaviors?
Mindfulness can separate our feelings of need from our feelings of desire, and this is also important with the food that we eat.
Are there specific exercises or practices you recommend for developing mindful eating skills?
Simply by using the senses as previously mentioned, creating a sense of gratitude for the food that is in front of you, and mindfully learning to enjoy every bite; from noticing the colour to the textures, as well as the more obvious taste and smell.
How does mindfulness influence cravings and food choices?
It’s okay to give into cravings, but often it comes from an impulsive thought, or perhaps even from a nutrient or mineral deficiency. Therefore, the more we practice mindful eating, we may find that we experience less cravings or impulsive eating habits. And overtime, we begin to truly fuel our body with exactly what it needs.
Can mindful eating be helpful for individuals with eating disorders or disordered eating patterns?
Along the same lines as the above answer, mindful eating can help us tune in to what our body really needs. Over time, this may mean that we actually consume less calories (if we are not impulse eating or binge eating), and we may naturally lean out or lose weight as a result of this. However, in terms of disordered eating or eating disorders, this may often require some type of psychotherapeutic or medical intervention or resolution. In eating disorder recovery, mindful eating may have more of a positive influence.
How can someone distinguish between physical hunger and emotional hunger through mindful eating?
Knowing the true feeling of hunger, and being on an empty stomach is something that can be learned through mindful eating. When we are in tune with our bodies, and also our emotions, we often come to learn when we’re eating out of true hunger, or eating out of boredom, stress, or other emotions.
Fasting and cleansing teaches us that it’s okay for our bodies to temporarily feel hungry, and that is often when the cellular cleansing process occurs. This is healthy for us, when following a proper and laid out cleansing or fasting plan.
Prolonged starvation due to an eating disorder is something different and should be addressed with therapeutic or medical intervention.
What role does gratitude play in mindful eating, if any?
As mentioned previously, incorporating a mindful eating practice, can help us become more grateful for our food – whether we’re cooking it, or having it cooked, delivered and placed in front of us.
When cooking, it’s important to note the farm-to-table process, giving gratitude to the farmers who grew these crops, the transport and logistic workers, to grocery clerks – all of that becomes a part of the process of having this food in our fridges and on our tables.
As we cook, it’s important to note the beautiful vibrant colours of the produce, the texture of everything as we slice and cut it up, the smell as it begins to cook, the presentation as we set the plates, and finally the taste as we feed ourselves and our guests.
Let’s be mindful and grateful for our health – every step of the way!
Bio:
Karly Sarah is the visionary founder of Movement One, a vibrant online wellness community. Movement One redefines wellness with a diverse array of programs encompassing yoga, pilates, strength training, conditioning, and mindfulness. The approach is a departure from the one-size-fits-all model, prioritizing a holistic integration of mind, body, and soul through a variety of practices. MVMT ONE inspires individuals to tap into their intuition, enabling a daily exploration of what their unique bodies and minds require. The motto encapsulates our philosophy: MOVE freely. be ONE with yourself. LIVE authentically.