One thing you will discover quickly when you learn more about mindful eating is that it is very similar to intuitive eating. From the benefits like healing your relationship with food to taking away judgment from your food choices, both are very closely linked.
In fact, it is great to use both techniques to start to understand what you choose to eat and what you crave, how much you eat, and how you feel after eating certain types of food.
That being said, if you’re like most people, you probably intuitively eat more than you mindful eat. Think about the last time you ate something really delicious. Chances are, you weren’t thinking about the calories or the fat content or whether it was “good” for you. You were just enjoying the experience of eating something yummy. This is what we call intuitive eating.
Conversely, mindful eating is when you are more aware of the experience of eating. You pay attention to the taste, texture, and smell of your food. You notice how it makes your body feel. And you are more present in the moment, rather than letting your mind wander off to other things.
So, if you are trying to eat more mindfully, it is important to be aware of both what you are eating and how you are eating it. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
Differences Between Mindful and Intuitive Eating
While mindful eating and intuitive eating are often used together for helping you to become a natural, healthy eater, they aren’t exactly the same thing. Here are some of the differences between them:
- Mindful eating is about being present with your food. This means really tasting it, smelling it, and enjoying the experience of eating. It’s about savoring your food and enjoying the experience of eating, rather than just shoving food in your mouth and swallowing. Mindful eating aims to help you become more aware of your eating habits and choices.
- Intuitive eating focuses on listening to your body’s cues. This means eating when you’re hungry and stopping when you’re full. It’s about trusting your body to tell you what it needs, rather than following an external cue like a clock or a diet plan. Intuitive eaters are in tune with their bodies and their hunger cues. Moreover, intuitive eating doesn’t have any “rules” or “restrictions” like mindful eating does. You simply eat what you want, when you want it.
With that in mind, you can see how the two techniques are different, but also how they can be used together and complement each other.
Why You Need Both Mindful and Intuitive Eating
Now that you know the differences between mindful and intuitive eating, you might be wondering why you need both. After all, can’t you just choose one or the other?
The truth is, both techniques are important for helping you to become a healthy eater. Mindful eating helps you to be more aware of your food choices and to appreciate the experience of eating. Intuitive eating, on the other hand, helps you to listen to your body’s cues and to trust your body to tell you what it needs.
Both techniques are important for helping you to develop a healthy relationship with food. By using both techniques, you can become more attuned to your body’s needs and learn to trust your body to tell you what it needs.
How You Can Use Them Both Simultaneously
Now that you know why you need both mindful and intuitive eating, you might be wondering how you can use them both simultaneously. Here are a few ways:
Pay attention to your body’s cues.
When you’re hungry, eat. When you’re full, stop. Listen to your body’s cues and trust that it knows what it needs.
Be present with your food.
When you’re eating, really taste your food. Smell it, savor it, and enjoy the experience of eating. Pay attention to what you’re eating and how it makes you feel.
Make peace with food.
Give yourself permission to eat whatever you want, without guilt or shame. Food is not good or bad, it’s just food.
Respect your body.
Treat your body with respect and love. Nourish it with healthy food, but also don’t deprive yourself of the food you love. Your body is worthy of respect, no matter what its size or shape.
The Benefits of Becoming an Intuitive and Mindful Eater
Even though both mindful and intuitive eating is important for helping you to become a healthy eater, there are also some distinct benefits to becoming an intuitive and mindful eater.
Some of the benefits of becoming an intuitive and mindful eater include:
- Healing your relationship with food: One of the biggest benefits of using both techniques is that it can help you to heal your relationship with food. If you’ve been struggling with disordered eating or an unhealthy relationship with food, becoming an intuitive and mindful eater can help you to develop a healthier, more balanced relationship with food.
- Improving your physical health: Becoming an intuitive and mindful eater can also help to improve your physical health. When you’re attuned to your body’s cues and you’re eating healthy, nourishing food, it can have a positive impact on your physical health.
- Boosting your mental health: In addition to improving your physical health, becoming an intuitive and mindful eater can also boost your mental health. When you’re eating in a way that’s in tune with your body’s needs, it can help to reduce stress and anxiety, and it can also improve your mood.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to become a healthier eater, both mindful and intuitive eating are important techniques to use. Mindful eating helps you to be more aware of your food choices and to appreciate the experience of eating. Intuitive eating, on the other hand, helps you to listen to your body’s cues and to trust your body to tell you what it needs. By using both techniques, you can become more attuned to your body’s needs and learn to trust your body to tell you what it needs.
Leave a Reply