Mindful Eating

Simply paying attention to the food you're eating seems hard these days. We're always eating on the go, in the car, grabbing a quick meal before moving onto the rest of the day. It's almost a hassle when you're busy. But eating can be a pleasurable chance to stop and take care of yourself with foods that nourish and revitalize the body, and no hectic schedule should take that away from you.

So try sitting down to eat, and only to eat. No reading material, no TV. Notice the smells, flavors, and textures of the food as you eat. Eat slowly, chewing each bite well. Listen to your body's signals when it's had enough. You should feel satisfied, but not completely full. It takes 15 minutes for your body to recognize that it's full, so you could be overstuffing yourself before you realize you've had too much. If you practice this by yourself often, it'll come naturally when you're eating with company.

Tip: Go a step further and try closing your eyes when you eat! You'll notice your other senses will be intensified. It's a burst of flavor sensation!