5 Strategies for Mindful Eating

Mindfulness is a beneficial practice that entails slowing down, taking note of body sensations and thoughts, and then applying that knowledge to build improved self-awareness and peace in various areas of your life. It should come as no surprise that mindfulness is a very effective strategy for improving your relationship with food. Here are a few ways to take advantage of the power of mindfulness as you work to build better eating habits.

Slow Down

Our lives are so fast-paced and chaotic these days that it's no wonder we apply the same mentality to our meal preparation and consumption. Furthermore, when we eat on the go, we're even more likely to simply scarf down our meals, leading to other problems such as poor digestion. Unfortunately, research shows that when you eat your food too fast it often results in overindulgence. Multiply those excess calories over the course of weeks and months, and without a doubt, you're bound to see rapid weight gain. When you eat, it can take up to 20 minutes for your stomach to get signals to your brain that you're full, so you can use mindfulness to slow down your meal consumption, thereby decreasing your chances of overeating.

To really put the potential of mindful eating to work here, consider focusing on the sensory experience of the meal, including the colors, textures, flavors, and temperatures of each food you're eating. Take the experience one bite at a time, really savoring every morsel of food.

Use an App

Mindful eating apps such as Go Eat Right Now are an excellent addition to any mindful eating program or personal eating plan. In contrast with other weight loss apps that merely track calories in and calories out, mindful eating apps help you accurately document your experience with food and build healthier habits through research-based mindful eating strategies. In addition, these apps provide you with tools to use when you face real-life eating challenges, such as intense food cravings.

Get a Buddy

Just as with any area of challenge in your life, it's helpful to approach the task of mindful eating with a partner. This might be as simple as intentionally sharing mealtime with a friend or loved one (helping you to slow down mealtime and cut back on excess food intake as mentioned before), planning meals with a friend who shares healthy eating habits, or participating in a mindful eating program with a...

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