The Power of Mindfulness in Building a Healthy Relationship with Food

Hello Ziddis! Being a part of today’s fast-paced world has us surviving on autopilot. We scroll on our phones through everything, be it workouts or dinner. This often leads to us overeating, undereating, emotional eating or plain distracted eating. We have forgotten the power of being attentive towards our food and also enjoying it. Connecting with one’s food builds a healthier relationship with food, helps you understand your body and hunger and is a gentle break we all require. This practice is called mindful eating. When you mindfully eat, every meal finds its way to best nourish your body.

Mindful Eating Exercises

Mindful eating starts with slowing down and paying attention to what’s on your plate and how it satiates you. Here are a few simple exercises you can practice daily.

• The Pause Ritual: Before you start eating, take a moment to take a deep breath, and ask yourself, “Am I physically hungry or emotionally triggered?” This especially works if you are overeating or eating too often. It can stop you from emotional eating or building unhealthy eating patterns.
• The First-Bite Practice: Here, you notice everything about your first bite, like the taste, texture, aroma and temperature, to let your senses fully experience it.
• Chew with Awareness: Take longer to chew. This makes digestion easier.
• The Halfway Check-in: When you are halfway through the food, check in on your hunger levels.

Mindful Eating Benefits

Mindfulness does not mean changing what you eat; it means changing how you feel about food. Here are some benefits of it:

• Better portion control
• Reduced emotional eating
• Improved digestion
• Healthier body image

Mindful Eating Tips

Here are easy ways to bring mindfulness into your daily routine:

• Eat without distractions-no screens, no rushing.
• Use smaller plates for portion control
• Keep healthy foods visible and tempting
• Drink water before meals to slow down your appetite
• Stop eating when you feel full, not stuffed.
• Eat protein-rich foods to start your day, like oats protein
• Make snacking healthier by munching on fit foods instead of salty or sweet treats.

Read Also: Mindful Nourishment: Exploring The Impact Of MuscleBlaze On Mental Wellness 

Takeaway

Mindfulness during meals helps you understand your body and nourish it rather than escape from it. By slowing down, you listen to your body and honour your hunger while creating a peaceful, balanced and healthy relationship with eating.