The Tastiest Form of Meditation

Food gives us energy, but depletes it as well.

 

There is no doubt that our minds are addicted to food. We are addicted to the delicious tastes and sensations. We drool over photos of food. We form positive and/or negative associations with food, the places we eat it, and the people we eat it with, and we spend energy thinking about our next meal, what to eat, where and who with.

 

Once we begin chowing down on our meal, our bodies spend quite a lot of energy digesting. So much energy that we generally tend to feel tired after we’ve finished our meal and our bodies work hard to process our stomachs full of food.

 

What if we could practice mindfulness to have a better experience with our food? What if being more aware when eating could help us live life with greater ease? Fewer worries. Fewer stresses. Less guilt. Less anger. Ultimately, mindful eating can help us conserve our energy for thinking sharp and making better decisions. I hope that these tips help bring even more radiance into your life.

 

• Say grace. Whether it’s “Rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub,” a religious prayer, or moment of silence before digging in, the practice of showing gratitude for the meal we are about to eat has been practiced for ages. Finding gratitude and appreciation for our food opens the heart. When our heart is open, we feel good, and we are able to carry ourselves with more dignity and grace.

 

• Slow eating. Consider chewing your food 30 times per bite or until the food becomes mush in your mouth.  Why? Because slow eating can be one of the most easily accessible meditations.  Slow yourself down and really enjoy the meal by engaging all five senses. Smell aromas. Feel the texture. Appreciate the colours. Taste every bite. Listen to the belly. You are retraining and rewiring yourself to be more conscious. Believe that this embodiment of self-control has the ability multiply to other facets in your life. It is a practice.

 

• Stop when you are 3/4 full. Eating takes so much energy that signals to the brain are generally delayed. Think of how gross you feel after overeating. The act of stopping and checking in with yourself gives your mind and body a moment to connect. Being mindful in this way is great for the mind and spirit, and is sure to leave your body thanking you.

 

I’m stopping myself at three tips today because if you could focus on even just one, you are helping bring more mindfulness into your life. You have the ability to practice multiple times a day with every meal. Isn’t it worth it to give it a chance?