Mindful Eating: Do you eat mindfully? It's a... - Healthy Eating

Healthy Eating

62,159 members8,210 posts

Mindful Eating

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27Administrator
7 Replies

Do you eat mindfully? It's a term I've always seen thrown about, the explanations usually say to sit, focus on the flavours and remove distractions, which I find hard to do if you're at the table with other people.

This week I've been following a suggestion to set a timer to see how long it takes to eat a meal. Once you know your baseline, you've to extend by a minute each day until it takes you at least 15 minutes to clear your plate. I've found it really helpful, so thought I'd pass the recommendation on :)

Here's a quick summary of why slower eating is better for you:

womenshealth.com.au/mindful...

Written by
Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27
Administrator
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
7 Replies
CristinaCB profile image
CristinaCB

nice, thanks for sharing!

Hey this is really interesting Cooper and very important as we need to digest our food properly.

Do I eat mindfully? sort of yes I eat my meals at my dining table and don't read emails or go on the communities and I live alone and I enjoy my food and eat slowly but I'm easily distracted so I don't just concentrate on the food.

So great advice here and thanks for posting it. 😊

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27Administrator in reply to

That's really good :)

Distractions happen to anyone, I suppose that's why the old mindfulness mantra always fails - it's hard to maintain focus for 15 minutes. It's great you eat slowly despite it :)

I'm trying to do this. Putting my knife and fork down between bites really helps. I know when I watch telly whilst eating or if I'm reading/on the computer I end up eating without actually really tasting anything and it makes me want to overeat because I'm not satisfied.

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27Administrator in reply to

That's excellent! It might sound silly, but I always feel a bit self-conscious putting the knife and fork down between bites, so it's great you are doing it :)

Zest profile image
Zest

Hi Cooper27

I attended a weekend where Mindfulness was practised - but it was a few years ago now - but I did find it very interesting, and it made me more aware of many things at the time.

Regarding whether I eat mindfully now - I would say not really. I tend to be quite mindful when planning and preparing my food, and enjoy the colour, texture, and flavour - and I try to savour each mouthful, but I also eat in the lounge, whilst watching TV, and I probably eat relatively quickly, so I conclude that I probably don't really eat mindfully enough.

I haven't looked at the article yet, but I will hope to do so, and I feel sure that your post will make me think more about this.

Zest :-)

MrRigatoni profile image
MrRigatoni

Hello pleased to meet you.

When we eat food to answer some of the questions you may have.

It needs to be registered between the pituary gland and the brain this means the signal to say the body is processing food.

Stomach acids and so on enyzmes now in to action to digest.

You body responds so can take 20 minutes to longer.

So do no point continuing to eat after a course still do this.

Wait twenty thirty minutes to register might not want anything else.

Eating slowly using a bowl small portions .

Use a rest inbetween each mouthful. Knife Fork Spoon.

If using with a bowl I use different sizes .

Use Fork Spoon as they do with any meals in Italy and Spain the Med.

Small portions means eat slowly make it last.

Also the brain registers this eat with your eyes be aware of colour taste and texture.

If you eat a bowl full of bland over seasoned food and looks horrible never want to eat.

Feed the eyes as they say.

Stimulation is so important in eating.

All my food has colour Tomato Reds and use brightly coloured veggies.

Fresh and frozen no greens except Spinach.

Make it tasty use spoces herbs and different flavours textures all help the brain to respond.

To moments of pleasure enjoyment and satisfaction.

Positive good looking tasty food makes you happy enjoy what you eat.

If you buy poor ingredients rubbish and then expect to eat well find it be very hard to enjoy.

Always make sure buy the best produce that you can afford and be practical sensible.

Used good ingredients means good food and fills you up longer healthy and digestion body systems do not suffer.

Mentally become aware and responsive be beneficial well being mentally..

Please take care

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Mindful eating??

I read somewhere that mindful eating is a great way to focus on your intake. But what actually is...
boaters profile image

Changing our relationship with food and being mindful of what we eat 🍇

Good morning everyone, Dieting and getting fitter and healthier is top of the list for lifestyle...

Clean Eating

I would like to aim at eating clean. I would like to focus on the positives of eating this way...
asics profile image

Eating Myself Well

I'm new to this community. I've been unwell for the last 5 months with stomach pain, nausea &...
cath_48 profile image

Eating enough calories?

Before I start - let me say this is the first time using this app, and I hope I'm using it right...

Moderation team

See all
Activity2004 profile image
Activity2004Administrator
Kitten-whiskers profile image
Kitten-whiskersAdministrator
Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27Administrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.