Perhaps one of the most important lessons to be learned in one’s health journey.  Let’s face it; we’ve all fallen into at least half a dozen diet trends over the years, and though they may have been effective at the time, they were all unsustainable and for the most part, unforgiving. In my case, I decided that fad diets weren’t for me, nor were they good for me in any way, and I often found that I would unnecessarily punish myself whenever I slipped up, which was actually, quite often.

Now for the good news: enter mindful eating; a non-diet approach to healthy living that allows you to be healthy and achieve your goals, but without having to deprive yourself of the things you like, all while not subjecting yourself to feelings of guilt, judgement and self-loathing.

So, what is mindful eating? Simply put, it is the practice of being present while making choices about the food that we eat, listening to our bodies, and making a conscious decision to eat when hungry and to stop when full. Mindful eating also involves savouring the food you’re eating, paying attention to how it tastes, whether or not you like it and how it makes you feel, both during the meal, and after you’re done.

I’m sure you would all agree that this sounds pretty good, and really does come with a bunch of reasons why it’s beneficial both for your mental and physical health. To name a few:

• Proven to lead to healthier food choices; because when we’re conscious of what our bodies are craving, we’re more likely to choose meals that will satisfy that need, as opposed to just reaching for whatever’s convenient.
• Better relationship with food; since we are now making better choices, we are also less likely to (a) overdo it if and when we choose to opt for a naughty treat (b) far less likely to beat ourselves over it when we do.
• Aids in better digestion; because taking the time to savour our meals means that we are not rushing and are less likely to overeat, which in turn is good for our digestion and overall health.

To conclude, if you find yourself rushing through your meals, regularly overeating, and not really enjoying your food, then maybe it’s time to adopt this practice. It is important to note however that this is not a ‘diet’ in the way that we have come to understand them.  Meaning that if you have drastic goals, such as needing to lose a lot of weight, or lowering your blood pressure, this may not necessarily achieve them per se, but will rather, help you achieve them in a more forgiving and sustainable way.

Looking forward to hearing some of your thoughts!

Stay tuned for our upcoming guide to clean eating…