HOW TO EAT MINDFULLY

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According to the Weight Control Information Network, two out of three adults in the United States are considered obese. Obesity is a huge problem in the U.S., but food alone might not be to blame. Some researchers also believe that there is a direct connection between obesity and stress, and Americans face some of the highest stress levels in the world. Why would stress be connected to obesity? It all has to do with the way that we consume food as a culture.

EATING WITHOUT THINKING

Most of us rush through all of our meals without really thinking about what we are eat. We do this for a number of reasons, but mostly because we are stressed out, overworked, and do not have the time to sit down and dine properly. When was the last time you ate a meal without looking at your phone or TV or other device? If you are like most people, you probably can’t remember a time when you weren’t looking at some kind of device while eating, right?

When you learn to actually enjoy the food you’re eating (or learn to “eat mindfully”), you’ll find that food tastes better, you lose weight, and meals no longer become a rushed and hurried stress. If this sounds good to you – and it should! – here are our best tips for eating more mindfully.

TIPS FOR EATING MINDFULLY

1. Put the devices down. Mealtimes should only be about food and some conversation (sometimes). Leave your phone and other devices out of the mix, or simply learn to stop multitasking while you are eating.
2. Eat sitting down. A lot of us eat while we are driving, in front of the television, while walking, or while standing up. If you make it a habit to sit down at a table while you eat every meal, those distractions will be a lot less tempting.
3. Appreciate and notice the food that you are eating. If you’ve spent the time to prepare one of our vegetarian recipes, make sure to enjoy what you’ve prepared. Notice the color, the appearance, and the way the food looks, and take the time to place it nicely on a dish.
4. Think about every mouthful of food you eat. Focus on each bite by noticing how it tastes, what it tastes like, the texture, and other details about the food. By really paying attention to the food that’s inside of your mouth, you will begin to appreciate what you are eating.
5. Remember to chew! This might seem really obvious, but most of us barely chew our food. Make sure that each bite is chewed well before you swallow that bite.
6. Look for quality ingredients. All of our vegetarian recipes stress the importance of whole and healthy ingredients. When you choose to add things to recipes that are high in quality, you can really enjoy what you are eating more.
7. Prepare your own food. When you make your own food, you appreciate it more – that’s a simple fact that will help you eat less and enjoy your food more.

OUR VEGETARIAN RECIPES

All of the recipes included in our Bible diet encourage good food, mindfulness while eating, and understanding the importance of quality ingredients. Once you begin making these recipes, you’ll want to slow down simply to enjoy the food that you are eating and have prepared! The benefits of mindful eating are many, but one of the main reasons why people begin this type of eating is to simply lose weight, feel better, gain energy, and stop eating without thinking.

If you want more information about mindful eating, vegan recipes, or the Bible diet, make sure to leave us a note, send us an email, buy one of our books, or catch us on Facebook. There are many ways to connect with us, and we can’t wait to hear from you!