How to bring mindfulness to eating

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Bringing mindfulness practice to eating can be interesting, insightful and challenging.

In paying attention, we may first notice that we are often not paying attention at all – eating while watching TV, talking on the phone, driving or surfing the web.

Even when eating with others, we may be caught up in "getting our word in edgewise" or separating from interaction. For many of us, as we give careful, non-judgmental attention, we begin to see that we are not always eating or drinking because we are hungry; and sometimes we notice that the satiety for connection and peace we ardently seek may not be satisfied.

If possible, it may enrich your experience to prepare the food; choosing what you eat in conscious awareness of what supports your body, reveling in color, aromas and the gifts of what we have the capacity to grow, buy and eat.

It can be helpful to have a practice opportunity when you are not in conversation, choosing to sit down undistracted by television, computer, opening the mail, etc.

Pause a moment, appreciating the entire range of sensory experience – the colors, smells, textures,  and the mind sense that takes in all that it took, all the many earth and human connections, to allow this particular food to be here, right now, to nourish your human body.

As with the raisin, recognize that you have not seen this particular food before. It is a unique experience.

Breathe this in and out.

Then take one bite and notice all the sensations, feelings, and thoughts that are continually coming and going – the sensations of taste and texture and how these change over time, as well as any moment-to-moment changes in the object itself.

When you notice the mind wandering to judgments associated with preference or about the past or the future, this is not a mistake. Simply notice where the mind has been and return to the knowing of the body-mind in eating.

Mindfulness allows us to see our autopilot tendencies in a sort of tender kindness, all by getting intimate with the experience of being a human being.

While noticing thoughts such as, "I cannot always eat mindfully,” or, "I don't have time to eat mindfully in my life,” as with all of our practices, we begin with the intention to simply notice in kindness.

In doing so, we find that rather than getting caught up in such concerns, we can, in this moment, simply choose to be here eating in mindful awareness.

We find the possibility of really nourishing our life.

When you are finished with the meal, maybe see how it is to refresh your intention to be here in life fully as you stand; staying in touch with seeing, hearing, smelling, knowing the ground and breath as you continue in your day.

For more information on Mindfulness, go to mindfulnessatthecenter.com.