Ask the Superfoodies: What the Heck is Mindful Eating, and Why Should I Practice It?

Try this: Take a small square of chocolate and place it in your hand. Look at it, turn it over, and take notice of its texture, color, and weight. Now, bring the chocolate up to your nose and smell it. Slowly, place the chocolate on your tongue, but don’t chew it. Close your mouth and notice the flavor and texture as it begins to melt. Close your eyes and notice how it feels in your mouth. Move it around and then as it becomes small enough, swallow it.

ask the superfoodies_mindful eating_strawberry on rock2Do you want another, or are you satisfied by this piece of chocolate? OK, maybe you still want another, but are you more likely to be able to stop after one? Reflect on how you feel after this exercise and compare it to how you might normally pop a piece of chocolate in your mouth, chew it quickly and swallow it, then gobble more.

Americans put a lot of emphasis on what we should or should not be eating, or what diet plan is going to miraculously shed that unwanted weight forever. Yet, many of us never think about how we are eating.

A growing body of research suggests that, when it comes to weight management, the way in which we savor or scarf our meals may be as important as what we are eating. Mindful eating, or intuitive eating, refers to the principle of being present — fully in the moment — and using all of your senses while you eat. It is based on the Buddhist concept of mindfulness, or being fully aware of what is happening within and around you. The practice of mindful eating does not dictate what you should eat: you’re encouraged to include foods you enjoy. You can mindfully eat pizza or ice cream by enjoying every bite and moving on. Your body may even tell you that you need a salad for your next meal.

According to the Center for Mindful Eating, the principles of mindful eating include:

  • Acknowledging that there is no right way or wrong way to eat.
  • Using all of your senses when choosing food that is both satisfying and nourishing.
  • Becoming aware of physical cues for hunger and fullness.
  • Gaining awareness of how to make food choices that support health and well-being.

At the other end of the spectrum is mindless eating. As a culture, Americans tend to eat mindlessly – at our desks, in our cars, or in front of the TV. Eating while distracted has become the norm for many. Brian Wansink, PhD, and his team at the Cornell Food and Brand Lab have spearheaded numerous studies that suggest our eating environment and habits, whom we’re eating with, our plate size, and how quickly we eat can dramatically affect how much we eat. These factors can even edge out our ability to recognize hunger and fullness cues.

So, how to eat more mindfully?

  • Remove all distractions: Step away from your computer, TV, or any other technology that will hold your attention while eating. Instead, focus all of your senses on what’s in your mouth.
  • Take lessons from the French: Linger over your meals like every meal is a celebration of the food on your plate.
  • Pay close attention to how you feel throughout the meal. Stop when you start to feel full.
  • Before you eat, tune into your hunger level. Are you eating out of boredom or stress?
  • Serve meals on smaller plates and leave the serving dish in the kitchen so you have to actively go back for seconds.
  • Slow down. Put your fork down between bites, use chopsticks (unless you’re a native chopstick user!), or eat with your non-dominant hand.

Make a resolution to try it for a week, or at every lunchtime, and see if you notice anything different about your relationship to food. After all, you’ve got nothing to lose except bad habits, right?

At Bon Appétit, we know there’s a lot on your plate that you worry about. That’s why we have a team of registered dietitian nutritionists, aka our “superfoodies,” ready to answer your nutrition questions about which food choices will help you avoid unwanted pounds, work or study (and sleep!) better, and form long-lasting healthy eating habits. Email your questions and feedback to [email protected].