Mindful Eating: Savor the Moment

Have you ever finished a meal and realized that you didn't actually taste the food?

Have you ever finished a meal and realized that you didn't actually taste the food?

It’s happened to me too often, so for lunch today, I consciously chose to “eat mindfully.” (It helped that I made my own gluten-free pizza. An indulgence. 😋)

What is mindful eating? - Mindful eating is simply taking the time to sit down and focus solely on the food you're eating. No phones, no videos, no podcasts—just eating and savoring the flavors and textures of the food. (It’s crazy to me that we even have to name this as the exception. I imagine mindful eating was the norm in ancient times.) 

Mindful eating sounds simple, but it can be a challenge to break the habit of consuming something other than food while we eat. This is especially true now that we live in a world where we're constantly bombarded with stimuli. It’s become more difficult to focus on one thing at a time, including our meals.

It’s not that I’ve been a completely mindless eater, though.

When I look around at the people I know, in general, I still eat more slowly, chew more often, and take time to attend to the details of what I put in my mouth. Also, during dinner, my wife, kids, and I always eat as a family together, without screens or music. But there are still many moments when I find myself distracted while eating. This is especially the case when I'm working alone at home, and my computer or phone is but an arms-length away.

Eating my pizza with more intention and attention just now made me reflect on the constant consumption of content I engage in. Halfway through the pizza, I even felt… bored? Though maybe “bored” isn’t the right word, but more a lack of input? Almost like I’ve been conditioned to constantly seek input.¹

Insane, right?

So, I’m making a commitment to myself to try and eat more mindfully. To savor the moment and truly taste my food.

Bon Appétit!

Jibran

1. And this conditioning probably extends to more than just eating. I feel it happens in other situations as well. Like going for a walk or bike ride with some podcast on vs just being alone with my thoughts.