I resist eating mindfully.

We can indulge…mindfully. We can not gain unwanted weight, but we can enjoy ourselves.

I prefer to eat while reading something from my never-ending to-be-read pile of books or watching something on our never-ending pile of shows on the DVR.

Two birds, one stone kind of thing.

Recently, I experimented with eating mindfully again.

I sat at our dining room table, alone, with my salad for lunch. With both feet firmly planted on the floor, I took a few deep breaths and felt gratitude for the abundance of fresh vegetables in front of me before taking my first bite.

I put my fork down between each bite, really tasting the food, feeling the textures and savoring the flavors. With no one to talk to, nothing to read or watch, I was forced to be fully present. Present to my food, present to myself.

In the same amount of time that I would’ve inhaled that salad, I found myself full halfway through.

I ate half the amount of food that I normally would have and was twice as satisfied.

So, okay, maybe there is something to this eating mindfully thing.

I still don’t always choose to do it, but I will definitely practice mindful eating this Thanksgiving. Take a look at the infographic below that lays out the calories in a typical Thanksgiving feast and you may want to join me.

Infographic on what happens when we don’t:

Eating our Thanksgiving dinner mindfully allows us to:

>>> show and experience deep gratitude for our food, family and friends

>>> savor our food without over-stuffing ourselves

>>> enjoy without guilt foods we don’t normally eat

>>> not consume a days worth of calories in one meal

4 Tips for mindful eating:

1. Feel gratitude for the food on your plate—where it came from, the people involved in growing, harvesting, shipping and preparing it.

2. Eat slowly, chew thoroughly. Put your fork down between each bite. You can even use your non-dominant hand to slow down.

3. Engage your senses. See the beauty on your plate. Smell the aromas, feel the textures, savor the tastes.

4. Unplug. No screens or pages. Stay present to the moment.

Eating mindfully on Thanksgiving, or any day, allows us to nourish not only our bodies, but also out spirits.

 

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Author: Kim Haas

Editor: Catherine Monkman

Photo: Henner Zeller via Flickr, Infographic: Visual.ly.