On my first day in high school, I was nervous, excited, and a bit overwhelmed. I remember sitting down for lunch with my friend in a loud and crowded lunch room, across from a cute older boy. I took one bite of my sandwich as I giggled nervously at the intimidating male figure in front of me and the end of lunch was signaled. I had to abandon my attempt to nourish myself and move along.
We learn early on in our culture to keep up with the rate at which our world moves. Some of us grow up in big families and learn to fight for our meals at the table before it disappears.
We become men and women in the workforce and eat on the move. We become parents and learn to eat before the child gets disinterested, meal time is over, and now they require your attention with something else.
Mindful Eating is a practice we should all adopt. It’s a way to fully enjoy our food, eating for nourishment and not absent-minded-emotional stuffing.
This is an exercise in which you set aside a period of time to sit with a small snack. Choose something healthy, something upon which you can hold in your hand and meditate. Maybe dried fruit or nuts. And relax, taking the time to smell, taste, and experience your food. It sounds silly and I bet you will feel silly too but it is a practice of slowing down. It’s training yourself to connect with what you eat and fully enjoy and appreciate what you eat.
If we can learn to slow down when we eat, our digestion will benefit. Our health will benefit as well as our emotions, because we are finding contentment with what we have.
This is a new interest of mine. So as I practice, myself, I will share my meditations and insights with you. Together we can achieve a healthier approach to food and nourishment.
