By Jessica Sepel – The Healthy Life
@jshealth
The next time you sit down to eat a meal, do one thing for me: come into your body and become aware if you feel stressed or relaxed? Are you holding on? Is your stomach starting to clench? Are you feeling racey/anxious? Is your heart racing? Or perhaps you feel calm and present?
You may be excited about your food or you may start to feel guilty about what you are about to eat.
These are some of the emotions I used to feel every time I sat down to a plate of food – not the calm and present part above.
However, it doesn’t have to be like this — here’s my advice:
Next time you sit down to a meal
– take 3 long deep breathes and relax your entire body.
Try your best to remove all judgment about what you are about to eat – instead focus on slowly enjoying each mouthful. Judgment around food causes stress which makes it actually harder to digest that food. Remember that 80% of the time your goal is to eat nourishing wholefoods and then there will be 20% of imperfect eating – that’s balance. So enjoy each meal – whether good or bad.
Pay attention and ENJOY
– eating is such a pleasurable experience. Enjoy it!!!!! Don’t rush it and eat what your body is craving. When you start to become a conscious eater you learn the art of moderation – you become aware of when you are full. This is the healthiest way to eat. Commit to making each moderate meal pleasurable. P.s.: Try to be sitting in a peaceful environment (away from phone/computers/tv) to do this. Food is so good for the soul.
Pay attention to your food and how you feel after eating it
– this is the best guide to knowing which foods make you feel good. When you start to be present with food – you start to taste it and enjoy is more which will make you feel much more satiated after eating.
