Doing mindfulness practices during mealtimes may sound like an odd activity to many. However, there’s a good reason why people work on their mental health while eating their meals.
A study on mindful eating shares that the practice is quite far from the Buddhist origins of mindfulness, but it still uses brief meditative exercises to encourage people to improve their health and well-being every mealtime. People try to use all their five senses, pay attention to any feelings of hunger or satiation, and manage their thoughts during mealtime because these practices transform their relationship with food.
To illustrate, here’s how mindful eating practices can benefit your health and well-being with regular practice:
Reminds you to stick to good habits
If you often struggle with sticking to good eating habits, you may want to try mindful eating practices. These practices serve as a daily reminder of good eating practices, making it easier for you to choose healthier food options daily.
One mindfulness practice you can do is set an intention at the beginning of your day or even at the start of every meal. These intentions remind you how you want to live or eat each day, thus guiding you to make good choices during mealtimes. For instance, you can tell yourself, “I will eat for nourishment” or “I am grateful for my food” every day to make the habit stick.
Creates more positive experiences with food
Examining your food and reminding yourself of good eating habits may not sound like a lot of fun. However, doing these mindful practices can correct your perceptions about food so you can enjoy mealtimes more.
Negative thoughts about unhealthy eating habits can cause people to be anxious about food, which is why mindful eating practices invite people to shift their language and tone towards food. Instead of reprimanding yourself for eating chocolate cake, you can change your perspective and focus on making healthier food choices that balance out the nutrients and portions of the cake you ate. Through this non-judgmental approach, you can reduce any anxious thoughts and feelings about food.
Helps you maintain a healthier body
Have you ever checked the portions of your food before digging in? The practice of mindful eating encourages people to examine the portions of their meals first to avoid overeating or creating food waste.
However, those aren’t the only benefits of checking your food portions! Portion size guides are critical in nutrition-based weight loss programs because it helps people in making healthier food choices and ensures that they can nourish their bodies with the right amount of nutrients. The process involves assessing the right amount of food for you based on your food’s nutrients and your health goals. Your hard work will pay off, though, because this practice will prevent you from eating more than you need.
Boosts your motivation to eat high-quality food
Many people are guilty of eating food for stress relief. You may think you deserve a bag of chips after a stressful work day or eat plenty of cake slices during exam week.
The habit of emotional eating often leads to weight gain and causes people to experience even lower body esteem. To end emotional eating patterns, you can write a short letter to cheer yourself up during tough times or even follow social media users who post quotes about self-compassion. Boosting your compassion for yourself can motivate you to eat more intuitively, improve your diet quality, and lower your tendency to eat for stress relief.
You have the power to let go of unhealthy eating habits that are no longer serving you. So if you want to start making changes in your life, you can book a reading to experience greater wellness. This service aligns you with your personal and professional goals so that you can thrive in life.
Are you ready to make personal and spiritual changes in your life? Consider a one on one private session with Moira or a reading to free yourself from limitations and open yourself up to greater possibilities? Click here to open the door.
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