healthy body tips

Mindful Eating Series: Part 1

Every day, I work with individuals, families and young children and adults who are busy, over worked, over stressed and under - nourished.  Caloric wise, these folks are over nourished in empty calories, but I find they are under- nourished in their micro-nutrient levels but it goes even deeper than that.  They are lacking connectedness to food, to the amazing bounty of nutrient rich foods available all around us.  In my work with my clients, I help them to become more mindful eaters - enhancing their connectedness to rich, healthy and healing foods and to bring back the ritual of eating.

If we look at other cultures, we can see the spiritual value of eating and even the gratitude of prayer before a meal and breaking bread with family and other individuals.  Eating is a sacred act.  A filling of our cup of life.  A renewal of the body.  A celebration of the harvest.  An honoring of our temple.  Our bodies, our beings are nourished, fueled and dependent upon food. 

We've gotten away, so far away, from the enjoyment, the pleasure and the spiritual bliss of eating.  It's nourishing not only to the body to but our souls.  It grounds us and connects us to mother earth.

In the pre-industrial days, significant work and labor surrounded the act of food preparation.  From planting to harvesting to cooking and baking- nothing in these olden times was quick, easy and convenient.  Accompanied the work was appreciation, gratitude, thankfulness and sweat equity.  Eating quickly after an 8-10 hours day worth of work preparing food was not an option.

Our fast food days have completely eliminated our connectedness to food.  It's really sad.  We order fast, we cook fast, we eat fast -- and yet, our mind if not in the process.

If we were to study the act of eating- chewing and swallowing food and then access the effectiveness on the digestive process - we can begin to identify the beginnings of digestive disorders, diseases and illness.


Mindful Eating is:
• Allowing yourself to become aware of the positive and nurturing
opportunities that are available through food preparation and consumption by respecting your own inner wisdom.
• Choosing to eat food that is both pleasing to you and nourishing to your body by using all your senses to explore, savor and taste.
• Acknowledging responses to food (likes, neutral or dislikes) without judgment.
• Learning to be aware of physical hunger and satiety cues to guide your decision to begin eating and to stop eating.

I'd like for you to think about the way and style of your eating patterns.  Are you choosing foods that are nourishing to your body, your temple?  Are you taking time to enjoy and savor the moment - enjoying and taking in the flavors, the aromas of your meals?

Over the course of our mindful eating series we will discuss ways to become more mindful eaters that will positively impact your health. 

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