If the last blog post made you worried that mindfulness was just a boring technique to distract you from the pleasure of eating, think again. Many people actually enjoy food more when they practice mindful eating. When you notice the subtle tastes and smells of food, eating starts to become a truly satisfying experience.
Don’t believe me? Let’s try an experiment. Grab a single raisin, if you have one available. If not, another small piece of natural food could be used, such as an almond. Now, before you place the raisin in your mouth, see what it smells like. Try to imagine the raisin hanging from a vine as a grape and how it dried up underneath the hot sun. As you place the raisin on your tongue, notice the immediate taste and try to see what bouquet of flavors emerge. Be mindful of how the raisin feels in your mouth and against your teeth. Whenever the raisin starts to lose your interest, you may swallow it but notice what it feels like as it goes down your throat and into your stomach.
Now tell me, was that a satisfying experience? Was your attention captured and your senses fully enlivened? That is how enjoyable mindful eating can be. Don’t worry, you don’t have to spend a whole minute on each bite. But by paying attention to your senses you will likely find yourself enjoying your food more. And what if you suddenly relapse into normal eating? Do not criticize yourself, you’re simply human. Just try to bring your brain back onto manual control and allow yourself to become fully aware of what you are eating once again.
Bon appétit!
1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
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