Mindful Eating- The Art of Presence while you Eat
A visual representation of this eating concept is the “Am I Hungry?” Mindful Eating Cycle (see diagram) from May’s book Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat.
Since most people eat for reasons other than physical hunger, the first question of “Why do I eat?” is often central to ultimately changing behavior.
• “Why do I eat?” may include an exploration of triggers such as physical hunger, challenging situations, or visual cues, which often spring from stress, fatigue, or boredom.
• “When do I want to eat?” The answer may depend on the clock, physical hunger cues, or emotions.
• “What do I eat?” examines the factors people consider when choosing food, such as convenience, taste, comfort, and nutrition.
• “How do I eat?” Is eating rushed, mindful, distracted, or secretive? In our technological, on-the-go society, exploring the process of eating can be eye-opening.
• “How much do I eat?” Quantity may be decided by physical fullness cues, package size, or habit.
• “Where does the energy go?” Eating may be invigorating, cause sluggishness, or lead to guilt and shame. How is the energy used during work or play?
Nutrition professionals can discuss these and other questions with clients, and encourage clients to ask themselves these questions daily to boost awareness of the factors guiding their eating decisions. “Asking ‘Am I hungry?’ puts a pause between a trigger and a response,” May says. “That gap breaks us out of ineffective, habitual patterns and gives us an opportunity to change old behaviors.”
Above all, let your food be your medicine!
Dee😊
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