Mindful eating is all about focusing our attention on the act of eating. It means eating with awareness and using all the senses - sight, sound, touch, taste and smell.

image source: eatingmindfully.com

I love this image from the guru of mindful eating - Susan Albers. Before you start eating take a few deep breathes and truly concentrate on the taste of food. Savour the flavours. As you progress in your meal you might notice that the pleasure in eating decreases and the speed at which you are eating increases. When the food is not giving you pleasure it might be time to put down your knife and fork.

Here are some of my favorite ways of bringing mindfulness to mealtimes:

Eat slower

It’s a good idea to remind yourself (and your family) that mealtime isn’t a race. By eating slower you are more likely to notice when you are full. S lowing down and chewing food properly helps you digest your food and helps prevent food-baby tummy aches we get from eating too quickly.

REMOVE the phone. TURN off the Telly.

do you see a spot for your mobile? I don’t either

Our lives are full of distractions, and often families eat with the TV on or with someone playing with their iPhone. Try making family mealtime an electronics-free zone. I’m not saying you can’t ever eat pizza in front of the TV, but if you do want to do that - make it a deliberate choice.

Pay attention to flavor

The tartness of lime, the spiciness of chilli flakes, the crunch of a pizza crust — paying attention to your food can be a great way to eat mindfully. When you eat on the go or get through your meal in five minutes, it can be hard to notice what you are actually eating, let alone truly savour all the different sensations of eating.

Mindful eating can be a simple commitment to appreciating and enjoying the food you eat every day. It can be practiced with salad or ice cream, an apple or a piece of chocolate, and you can practice it at home, at work, or even as you snack on the go -though you may find yourself doing this less often.

When the focus becomes how you eat, rather than what you eat, you might find what you want to eat changes too.

If you'd like to learn more about MINDFUL EATING and be supported along the way with lessons and recipes click here