What does your meal times consist of??
Do you eat on the run? Do you have your meals in front of a computer or television screen? or both? Is meal time a time you discuss the latest dramas at work or your financial stresses?
Here's some food for thought!
By allocating your meals a time all of their own, you not only savior the meals so much more, but it can help you lose weight and absorb more nutrients!
When we're eating and get full, there has been a conversation between the gut and brain that has been going on for about 20 minutes before we get this 'full' feeling. So if we're racing through our meals then we may be eating long after we are full, before we get the 'sense' that we're full.
Mindful eating is the practice of becoming fully aware of the meals you eat and removing distractions at meal times.
And it starts before you start preparing your meal or snack. Think, "Am I really hungry, or am I just thinking about eating because I'm bored or am I actually thirsty?"
If you are preparing the meal, prepare it with some love, there is a noticable difference in a meal that is prepared by someone who is fully involved in what they are doing and take pride in what they're creating as opposed to a meal made by someone who is angry, rushed and just not in the mood for cooking.
When eating your meal, take your time. When sitting down at the table for your meal, notice the colours and aroma, this will get your gastric juices flowing and start up the digestion process. Chew your food well, take time to feel the textures and savior the flavour. Take your mind off all your other distractions and stresses, a good way of doing this is to think about the process that has gone into making the meal, from farm, to the grocer, to the plate. Enjoy the company of whoever you are sharing the meal with, even if your eating by yourself, don't debate politics or discuss the dramas that happened at work that day, just enjoy the company.
Some people say that by using your non dominate hand to eat with is a good way to practice Mindful Eating to slow you down, but this just frustrates me and it takes my mind off the meal and onto my clumsy uncoordination.
By practising 'Mindful Eating' you get full and feel full at the same time (or at least close to it) stopping you from over-eating, helping you lose weight.
It also assists your digestion and helps you get the most nutrition out of the food. When you are distracted or stressed your digestive enzymes and blood flow to the gut is reduced, reducing the amount of nutrients you get out of the meal.
And, best of all, you're going to enjoy your meals so much more!
Just something to think about.
Jason
