What is mindful eating?

Ayurvedic wisdom encourages conscious eating for the benefit of the mind and body. This is part of daily routines known as dinacharyas which provide guidance on how to live a more balanced life.

Mindful eating is important as food is what fuels you and keeps your digestive fire strong. Eating brings joy, and when food looks and smells delicious you may want to dive right in but before you rush to take a bite: stop. Just for a moment and really focus on the plateful of food in front of you. The joy should come from the connections that food can bring us, with one another and with the earth that provides such nourishment.

Give thanks to your food

Before you eat explore your meal with your eyes and mind, consider how each and every ingredient got to your plate and pay gratitude to those that enabled this. Give thanks to the farmers, growers, producers, distributors and cooks that were all part of this journey. You will feel far more satiated sharing such appreciation.

Slow down

A mindful eating practice is focused on when and where you choose to eat. Avoid eating too early or late in the day, and eat when you’re hungry, not because you are bored, upset or angry. The same goes for when to stop eating, listen to your body and stop before you are painfully full. The slower you eat the more habitual this becomes. Ayurvedic wisdom recommends chewing food 32 times until it’s very soft and you have experienced every flavour and essence of it. This enables the food to enter your digestive tract more broken down, making it easier to digest and absorb all the nutrients.

No distractions

Finally, give eating the time it deserves. Set time aside to really enjoy your meal and try not to eat on the go. Where possible, eat free from distraction so you can be present in the experience. This means no TV or smartphones, and no multitasking, just pure focus on the food in front of you. Feel free to share mealtimes with others, as long as you continue to give attention to what you are eating and not just thoughtlessly consuming.

Embrace the benefits

A mindfully eaten meal will provide the vitality that your body needs which in turn nourishes your mind. This cycle of fulfilment is all part of the connectedness present in everyday Ayurveda. Try a mindful eating practice for your next meal and lean into the power and connection it provides.