We’ve heard a lot about mindful eating. But have you ever stopped to think about what it actually means? And how about mindless eating, if any?
On the surface, mindful eating sounds like a great idea. Who wouldn’t want to be more present and aware while eating? But for many of us, the idea of being mindful while eating can feel daunting, or even impossible.
Mindful eating is the exact opposite of mindless eating. Mindless eating is when you eat without paying attention to what you’re eating or how much you’re eating. It’s often done out of habit or boredom, and it can lead to overeating.
The main difference is that when you are mindless, you are not thinking about your eating, and just eating your meal or snack on auto-pilot. This is not the healthiest habit to develop, but one you can break by using mindful eating techniques.
What Is Mindless Eating?
Mindless eating is probably what you and most people you know do on a regular basis. You eat while you have distractions like your computer or the TV, don’t pay attention to what you eat or how much, and just sit there munching away, thinking about anything but the food you’re eating.
When you are a mindless eater, you don’t put much thought into what you are eating, when to stop eating, or why you feel certain ways after finishing a meal. You may not even realize how much you’re eating until the food is gone, and then feel stuffed or guilty.
Mindless eating is among the reasons why the obesity rates are so high in the United States and other Western countries. If you eat mindlessly, you are more likely to overeat and make poor food choices. Since you don’t really pay attention to what you’re eating, your taste buds can get desensitized, so you may start craving more and more unhealthy foods.
Why It’s a Bad Thing
There are several reasons why mindless eating can be a bad thing. First of all, it makes it really hard to tell when you are full, which is why you tend to overeat often, leading you to feel sick often because of how stuffed you get after each meal.
Mindless eating can also lead to weight gain since you’re not really paying attention to how many calories you’re consuming—you just eat for the sake of eating.
And finally, mindless eating can cause you to develop unhealthy relationships with food.
You may start to see food as something that you just need to get through, rather than something that nourishes your body and soul. This can lead to emotional and binge eating, which is when you eat for reasons other than hunger, such as boredom, stress, or sadness.
Mindful Eating
While mindless eating is detrimental to your health, mindful eating is just the opposite. Mindful eating is about being present and aware of what you’re eating, savoring each bite, and listening to your body to know when to stop.
It’s also about being aware of why you’re eating—are you actually hungry, or are you eating for another reason?
If you’re eating mindfully, you’ll be able to answer these questions and more. You’ll be in tune with your body and your hunger cues, so you’ll know exactly when to start and stop eating.
You’ll also be more aware of the foods you’re eating and how they make you feel. This can help you make better food choices overall, and lead to a healthier relationship with food.
How to Make the Switch to Mindful Eating
If you, after reading all of this, realized that you are a mindless eater, don’t worry—it’s not too late to make the switch to mindful eating. In fact, transitioning from being a mindless eater to a mindful eater is a lot easier than you may think.
Start by removing all the noise and distractions from meal times, and just sit with your meal and be present. Mindfulness is all about being in the moment, and not worrying about the past or future. Don’t think about what you need to do after dinner, but instead use all your senses for this meal and only this meal.
Focus on the taste, smell, and texture of your food. Take small bites and chew slowly to really savor each bite. You’ll then start to feel more satisfied with less food, and will be less likely to overeat.
And finally, listen to your body—stop eating when you’re no longer hungry, even if there’s still food on your plate. It may take some time to get used to mindful eating, but eventually, it will become second nature.
So, the next time you sit down to eat, take a moment to be mindful of your food, and see how it makes you feel both physically and emotionally. You may just find that you enjoy your meals a lot more when you’re really present for them!
Conclusion
Switching from mindless to mindful eating is a great way to improve your relationship with food, and help you make better choices overall. It can be tough to break old habits, but it’s not mission impossible! Just like anything else worth doing, it takes time and practice to reap the benefits of mindful eating, and you’ll get there eventually.
Leave a Reply