How to eat more mindfully

How to eat more mindfully

Have you ever thought back over your day and struggled to remember what exactly you ate, and when? Do you drift to the cupboards out of habit rather than hunger? It’s time to shift our collective eating attitude from mindless to mindful, and don’t worry – you don’t need to meditate over every grain of rice to do it.

Have you ever thought back over your day and struggled to remember what exactly you ate, and when? Do you drift to the cupboards out of habit rather than hunger? It’s time to shift our collective eating attitude from mindless to mindful, and don’t worry – you don’t need to meditate over every grain of rice to do it.

Mindful eating is about slowing down, paying attention to our body and what we’re putting into it. With so many of us rushing around in a perpetual hurry, eating often becomes a multitasking endeavour, a necessity rather than a pleasure. By bringing awareness to how, when and what we eat, we can become more intentional about it, and get better nutrition and improved digestion as a result. Try these tips to put a bit more mindfulness into your eating habits.

Make conscious choices

Next time you find yourself hunting in the cupboards or fridge for a mid-afternoon snack, pause. Are you actually hungry, or is it boredom, habit, or an emotional need that has you reaching for food? When you are hungry, observe the sensations. Do you also feel lethargic? Could you be dehydrated? Becoming more aware of your body’s cues will help you determine what you really need, and put your conscious brain in the driver’s seat.

Think about what you’re eating

How often do you consider the various vitamins, proteins and electrolytes in your food? Are you eating with nutritional value in mind, or because it’s convenient, comforting, or just plain yummy? Of course, you can tick all of those boxes with your food, but what you eat should also give your body what it needs to carry you through your day. Fitfood’s meals are all nutritionally balanced and based on wholefood principles, so you can get the convenience, taste and nutrition without having to ponder complicated nutrition profiles yourself.

Chew properly

Yes, your grandma had a point – when you take a bit of extra time to chew each bite thoroughly, you’ll improve your digestion and give your brain time to catch up with your stomach. No more accidental overeating!

Make mealtimes just about eating

We’ve all been guilty of grabbing a bite on the go in the midst of a busy day, but mindful eating is about taking our time over our food instead of shovelling it down in between tasks. Try and carve out some time dedicated just to eating, at the table, with your family, partner, or flatmates. Put away phones, turn off the TV, and focus on the food in front of you. Eating at predictable times and places can also help with your sleep and mood – especially if you have a tendency to get hangry. At Fitfood, we are very familiar with juggling a million things, which is why we’ve developed our range of fresh and frozen meals and meal kits, all designed to have you spending less time in the kitchen.

Enjoy

Food is more than just fuel – it’s a pleasure, and bringing a bit of awareness back to the process of consuming it will optimise your appetite and help your body prepare for digestion. Use all your senses – the way the food looks on the plate, the smell, the different flavours and textures. This isn’t just another task to tick off your list – this is your time, and you deserve to savour it.