Research shows that with mindful eating you can weigh less, eat less, and get greater enjoyment from your diet. Train yourself to the power of mindful eating today…

We eat more because we taste less. This saying has never been truer than it is today. We are a nation that is overstocked on food yet short on time. Everyone is rushing from one place to another, one appointment to the next with barely a free moment for a toilet break let a lone a hearty meal. The role of food has changed from bringing physical and emotional sustenance to merely providing a fast and convenient packet of fuel to get through one day to the next. Even when we do get an opportunity to sit down and eat a good meal, it is done whilst watching our favorite tv show, trolling through emails, or dare I say it catching up on the movements of friends on Facebook. Technology that surrounds us has taken our attention away from the food in front of us.

Food used to be more that just energy, and it still is in some places. Take the Mediterranean counties as an example. Their food supply is dominated by bustling local markets selling fresh produce that is bought and cooked that day. Families regularly sit down together and celebrate the diversity of flavors of herbs and spices with no distractions other than the food itself. It’s a far cry from the relationship that many Australians have with food (or should I say products that do a good job mimicking real food). We have turned into a nation of overeaters who spend little time thinking about the food that slides down our throat. On average Australian’s are growing heavier at a rate of 1kg per year  which is putting a huge amount of stress on health budgets and the public health sector. The way out of this mess requires a change in our relationships with food, and it starts by eating more mindfully.

What is mindful eating?

Mindful eating is the opposite of mindless eating. Mindless eating is eating food, usually quickly, whilst focusing on another task. To eat mindfully requires you to turn off any distractions ie. TV, computer, and center your attention on the food in front of you. The first step to mindfully enjoying food is to take it in with your eyes. What does it look like? What are the shapes and colors in your food? What is jumping out at your and making you salivate. Now it’s time to take your fist mouthful. As you do so tune in to the unique texture and flavor combinations. All of your focus is on the food in your mouth. Don’t rush it down your throat. Slowly enjoy the subtle flavors as they appear at different stages. Now swallow and experience the sensation as it disappears. Repeat this with subsequent mouthfuls until your feel satisfied.

Research shows that mindful eaters weigh less, eat less, and get greater enjoyment from their diet. Train yourself to become a mindful eater and it will soon become a natural way of eating. You will find yourself eating less as you taste more!