5 WAYS TO CREATE MORE MINDFULNESS

Happy National Yoga Month, friends! 

If you have been following us for some time now you know that we are huge fans of yoga.  Yoga not only has positive effects on the body, but it also has the ability to create more mindfulness in our lives.  The truth is, we make many food decisions daily, and they’re often not conscious.  Mindfulness, particularly mindful eating, is the ability to observe how our body feels and make an intentional eating decision (versus reacting to environmental triggers).  When we bring awareness to the present moment, we can slow down, eat with more awareness and all our senses, and better enjoy each bite.  By taking the time to focus on the food we eat, we empower ourselves to break old habits and start discovering strategies that work best for us instead of against us!  Wanna start eating more mindfully?  Check out these 5 strategies... 
​

1. Write it down. Whether you use good ol’ pen and paper or something more tech savvy (like MyFitnessPal), writing down what you eat can bring more awareness to what your current eating habits are so you can better understand what you can improve upon.  
2. Ask, “How do I feel?”  It may seem a bit silly, but there can be many times that we eat because of things other than hunger.  For example, if there’s still food left on your plate or you smell the aroma of something delicious.  It’s important to listen to your body and aim to fuel it only when it’s hungry.
3. Get rid of “good vs. bad”.  You are what you think you are.  So if you believe that you “ate bad” yesterday, then that might cause you to spiral into negative thinking and throw in the towel with healthier eating.  Remember, you cannot ruin your progress with one meal or snack and get back on track at the very next opportunity.
4. Don’t eat distracted.  When you’re able to focus on the food you’re eating, you can better enjoy it!  Next time you sit down for a meal or snack, put your phone away.  And before you take a bite, notice the color and smell of your meal.  Take a bite of food and assess the texture as you chew and the flavors you experience. Eating more mindfully can be easier than you thought!
5. Give gratitude.  You don’t have to grow your own garden to appreciate food.  By simply acknowledging where your food came from, what it took to get to your plate, and giving thanks for the nourishment in front of you, you can practice mindful eating.

How are you eating more mindfully?  Share a photo with us using #mealplanningmethod! 

lindsey