Eat on a refined plate! I love this trick for turning an everyday meal into a party. Creating a colorful and appetizing plate of food a...
Eat on a refined plate!
I love this trick for turning an everyday meal into a party. Creating a colorful and appetizing plate of food and relishing the pleasure of cooking and eating are all ways to practice mindful eating. Studies suggest that the health benefits of Eat Mediterraneanwhich includes an abundance of vegetables, olive oil and seafood, are likely enhanced by the tendency of locals to enjoy and savor their food and turn every meal into a feast with friends and family.
No more multitasking while eating.
Many readers have found that they used to check their phone, read, work, or watch TV while eating. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying your food while watching the Super Bowl or during family movie night, mindful eating is best achieved when you focus on the meal.
“My biggest aha moment so far: slowing down and really being present while I eat,” one reader shared. “I put my phone or my book somewhere else and just focus on the taste, smell, texture and appearance of my food. I enjoy food so much more when I savor it!
Put down the fork.
A number of readers shared this advice, noting that once they became more aware of their eating habits, they noticed that they tended to grab a new fork of food before they were even done chewing. . Learning to put the fork down between bites helped them focus on the taste and texture of their food, rather than the next bite. A consistent theme I’ve heard from readers is that mindful eating has also helped them slow down at the table and made them realize how quickly they’ve gobbled down their food, a habit often learned in childhood.
Use smaller plates.
A number of readers have told us that using smaller dishes has helped them serve smaller portions and listen to their body’s signals of hunger and fullness. With smaller plates, seconds are always an option if you’re still hungry.
“American dinnerware is huge, and it’s really easy to fill the plate,” one reader shared. “Many of us were also trained by our parents to clean our plates, and so we don’t stop eating when we’re full.”
Never shop for groceries when you’re hungry.
Paying attention to hunger cues helped readers notice that it’s best not to buy food when they’re hungry. Studies show that when people shop on an empty stomach, they don’t buy more food – they buy higher-calorie, less healthy food. This happens because our brains are more reactive to “reward” sweet and salty foods when we are hungry.
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