Mindfulness Challenge Day 9: Mindful Eating
The next two days of our mindfulness challenge are what I call FUN! I mean, who doesn’t love talking about eating!? I know, I know….you may be wondering, “What does mindfulness have to do with eating?” My answer, “A lot!”
From buying, preparing, consuming, to even serving food has a lot to do with your health, personal habits and the habits of your own children/family, and any fitness goals you are trying to achieve. How attentive you are and your awareness of the food and drink you put into your body all filters back to mindfulness.
Think about the times when you’ve snuck into the kitchen for that midnight snack while everyone else in the house is sleeping. Or sneaking that Snickers bar onto the conveyor belt at the checkout line. Putting that extra scoop of Mac and cheese on your plate even though you can hear your mom in the back of your head saying, “Don’t let your eyes be bigger than your stomach!” Lol….*My hand is raised here.* Come on….we’ve all done it.
Today’s challenge is centered around mindful eating and nutrition. Mindful eating will take practice and discipline, but is essential to your overall health and is an intregal part to any nutritional and/or fitness goals you may have set for yourself. Below is the definition of mindful eating, along with the challenge. The goal and outcome for this challenge are to be purposeful and intentional in your daily eating habits, while developing and maintaining a healthy relationship with food.
Mindful Eating - Being fully aware of and attentive to your food as you buy, prepare, consume, and serve it.
The Challenge in 8 Steps:
Write a shopping a list and pay very close attention to the health value of every single item you write down. Don’t buy on impulse. Stick to the list.
Choose three healthy meals to cook that only include fresh produce and meats (no processed items).
Don’t skip meals. Eat a healthy snack in between.
When making your plate, start with a small portion.
Practice mindfulness before you eat. Express gratitude and activate your 5 senses.
Take small bites and taste every bite of your food. Take note of the seasonings, smells, ingredients, etc.
Chew well. Science tells us to chew 20-40 times with each bite, depending on what you are eating.
Take your time. Enjoy your food. Stop eating BEFORE you are “stuffed”.
Make today amazing,
~Coach Ashley
