The term “mindful eating” is used everywhere these days! You may be wondering, “What exactly is mindful eating? How does it help? How can I learn more about it, or help others learn about it?” With the explosion of interest, there is also confusion about mindful eating.
Often understood narrowly as “eating slowly” or “eating without distraction,” but contrary to popular belief, mindful eating is not “just” eating with awareness. Although being present while eating is important, mindful eating encompasses the entire process of eating, such as:
- awareness of body cues (like hunger), thoughts, and emotions
- recognition of non-hunger triggers for eating, including environmental and emotional cues
- selection of food for both nourishment and enjoyment
- eating for optimal satisfaction and satiety
- using the fuel you’ve consumed to live a vibrant life.
This broad application makes mindful eating a powerful tool for creating a healthier, happier relationship with food that supports optimal well-being.
Our white paper, Mindful Eating: A Practical Approach to Optimal Eating and Health, was written to shed light on the concept of mindful eating and offer a resource for those interested in learning more about it. It provides a practical description of mindful eating, clears up common myths and confusion about mindful eating, explains how it helps individuals across the health spectrum, and describes a model for implementing mindful eating in virtually any setting.
Watch this one minute video for a brief summary of the white paper, Mindful Eating: A Practical Approach to Optimal Eating and Health, and/or download the complimentary paper now. And feel free to share with others who may benefit!
This article has been updated from a previously published version.
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