Written by Cassidy Dunn, Abby Goodman, Matt Gree, Zosia Proch, Hannah Ward, Tim Zeiber
Instead of eating mindlessly, putting food into your mouth almost unconsciously, not really tasting the food you’re eating… you notice your thoughts, feelings, and sensations” when you are mindful with your eating. Leo Babauta explains this in one of his blogs on Zen Habits, where he gives advice on living simply.
Mindful eating is a way to help you gain control over your eating habits. Distractions in today’s world have caused us to stop paying attention to our food and instead do something else, connecting it to the simple living movement. Did you know it takes the brain 20 minutes to realize that it is full?
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average American spends two and a half hours a day eating, and usually, we’re doing something else too. Eating mindfully can restore one’s attention and help them slow down, creating an intentional act instead of an automatic one. These tips make it easy wherever you are living.
Here are 5 tips on how to be more mindful of your food choices:
1. Chew thoroughly – don’t rush your meals. Instead, let your body catch up to your brain.
2. Listen to your body and stop eating when you’re full.
3. Eat from local sources, like the farmers market – they’re healthier and you know where foods are coming from.
4. Eliminate distractions – turn off your phone and the TV.
5. Ask yourself, “Why am I eating?” Are you hungry, bored or stressed?
Many benefits come from mindful eating. The benefits include enjoying the taste of healthier food, enjoying your eating experience more, learning how food effects your mood and making social overeating not as big as a problem for you.
There are also benefits from eating local produce. For instance, the foods being fresher, better for the economy, and even create a community by letting people get to know farmers.
Our FYS recently took a trip to pick our own apples at the Masonic Village Farm Market and Orchard. We knew exactly where our food was coming from and it was only 85 cents a pound! Picking the apples provided us with happiness and we were able to grow closer as a class. We also were able to go inside the farmers market and see all it had to offer. There were peaches, jams, applesauce and so much more. The Farm Market is fewer than 2 miles from campus and you could visit it too!
Mindful eating will not only lead you toward simple living, but it will make you feel healthier and happier after giving it a try for yourself! Stay tuned for next week’s column describing essential oils and their benefits. Follow us on Twitter using the #EtownSimplified to find out more about our apple picking experience and simple living.
