Many people eat mindlessly without truly enjoying their food. Eating with awareness and being present during meals helps you feel full more quickly and also leads to eating less. By paying attention to what you eat and truly tasting your food, it becomes easier to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight.
3 simple tips to enjoy your food more:
Tip 1: Set an intention. Nothing is more fleeting than attention. Be present in the moment while eating and consciously decide to enjoy it. Think: “Now I’m really going to enjoy what I’m tasting.” Note: eat at the table—not in front of the TV or tablet—and put your phone away so all your attention is on your food.
Tip 2: Use all your senses. Close your eyes, smell your food, feel its texture. What sound does it make when you bite into something crispy? Chew each bite 40 times.
Tip 3: Pause between bites. Putting down your cutlery in between bites is a great way to avoid eating too fast.
There are more and more studies showing that you can easily manage your weight by eating slowly. Chewing thoroughly helps digestive enzymes do their job. Saliva contains the enzyme amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates and initiates the digestion process. A complete digestion helps your body absorb nutrients better, reduces bloating, and may even lessen flatulence.
Food holds a central place in every culture. For example, Buddhist monks view meals as moments of meditation.
While meditating during meals might seem like a stretch, there are plenty of reasons to stop treating eating as automatic, and instead approach it mindfully.
Like during a candlelight dinner, for example.