Mindful eating is a concept that is all about paying attention to the way we eat, tuning in to what we’re eating and why we’re eating it.

How often have you been completely unaware of what you’ve eaten within a day? How often do you eat whilst doing something else, whether working, driving, watching television or reading? It’s very easy to overeat and regain weight when we’re busy, distracted and mindlessly eating at every meal.

At Be Fit Food, we believe it is important to form a healthy relationship between food, mind and body. Eating mindfully is an important habit to develop as part of a healthy lifestyle and weight maintenance.

Below are some practical ways to start practicing mindful eating:

Being aware of your hunger cues
When you listen to your body, you will know when you are hungry and what you are hungry for. This can stop habitual eating for the sake of it, and instead allow you to choose to eat food your body really needs.

Look or think about the choices around you
At every meal you have a choice to make. Stop and notice the foods on offer. This allows you to make informed choices to better nourish yourself.

Being present at meal times
Being mindful while you are eating will allow your body to respond properly to what it is doing. If you are eating whilst stressing about work, reading or watching tv, you may not be giving your body the time to enjoy your meal or to register when you are satisfied.

After a meal
After eating a meal, notice your feelings of fullness. Pause for a moment to contemplate what you’ve eaten and how it made you feel. Don’t simply eat more because you can.. we all know food comas lead to fatigue and bloating.

Start practising a few of these tips throughout Self Care September – you’ll find you enjoy and appreciate each meal much more than before!