Mindless vs. Mindful Eating

When I talk with people about their eating habits, I ask them not only about their food and beverage intake but also about their meal/snack experience. What I mean by "experience" is where do they eat, are they seated at a table or standing in front of the counter, do they eat with others, is the television on, etc.?

I am also amazed by the number of colleagues who eat at their desks or say that they are too busy to stop working for a meal. Mistakes! We all need breaks from work in order to recharge and be efficient and, in addition, nourishment and fueling the body are essential to being good at our jobs!

When I meet with someone who is engaging in mindless eating, I hope to help him/her to become more of a mindful eater with some of the following strategies:

• pay attention to the food that you are eating


• really taste it, savor the flavors, notice the textures, enjoy it


• eat slowly


• listen to body cues on hunger and satiety - stop before getting stuffed


• turn off the distractions such as television


• if at work, get away from the desk and take a break from looking at your smartphone - sit outside if the day is nice, go to a cafe if you have time

Interested in more about this topic? Check out one of my favorite books and approaches to eating, called "Intuitive Eating": http://www.intuitiveeating.org/