Whether you’ve heard of it or not (with so much social media nowadays, you probably have,) mindful eating is rising in popularity. But why? Well, it’s good for you, and in this post we’ll dive straight into mindful eating to really understand what it can do for a teenager.
It’s great to start things like this when you’re young. Even if you’re not young, mindful eating is still a great idea. So what exactly is it?
Well, mindful eating is the practice of paying as much attention as you can to your food when you’re eating. It’s very straightforward, but it’s deceivingly hard to begin doing. That’s why you have to practice it a lot. And when you’re young, you can learn habits like this easier.
Mindful eating isn’t a diet, it’s just a way for you to enjoy your food. A big reason why it’s so popular is it can help you realize when you’re, hence managing your weight. But, and this is my opinion, you probably shouldn’t worry about your weight as a teenager. Everyone’s body is different, and you’re growing. Just learning to accept who you are is enough, and you don’t have to please anybody else.
Now, how can You eat Mindfully? Well, once you’ve cooked food and you’re ready to eat, or you’re sitting down at the lunch table, make sure eliminate enough distractions as you possibly can (Not your friends though!). Being mindful takes immense focus, and, well, you can’t focus if you’re being distracted. Turn your phone on silent mode, make sure the tv is off, and take a seat with your plate in front of you. Now, before you even start eating, just take in the smells of your food. Does your Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich smell nutty, sweet, and even a little yeasty? Yum! From smelling your food, you’re probably quite hungry. Now you can begin to eat. Pick up your silverware, or your food, and take a look at it. It doesn’t have to be very long, just a second or two, but just be aware of what you’re putting into your mouth. When the food first hits your tongue, you can probably immediately fell its texture and taste it. Let’s go back to that sandwich. You just took a bite, and you suddenly feel the spongey bread hit your tongue. It tastes yeasty, salty, and a little sweet. It’s either soft or crunchy, depending on if you toasted it. Then, you notice the peanut butter sticking to the your mouth and teeth as you chew. It’s nutty and salty, with a hint of natural sweetness. Then, you get hit with the sweetness and moisture of the banana. When you think about it more, you notice that the banana is just ever so slightly sour, because it’s a fruit. You can also feel the starches inside of the banana. You swallow once you’ve sufficiently chewed your food, and you pay attention to the feeling of it sliding down your throat, esophagus, and then into your stomach. That was delicious! You think, and you go in for another bite, enjoying all of the flavors and textures of your food.
Now this might seem kind of weird at first, but trust me, you won’t regret it. Paying attention to your senses while eating can help you understand what foods you truly like and what foods you don’t, and it can help you realize when you’re full and don’t need any more instead of just mindlessly eating. It’s also a great way to build your focus and practice mindfulness in a world full of distractions. This be done at any meal or with any food, even with family and friends. Just make sure you pay attention to them as well; don’t eat and talk at the same time.
I hope this post inspired you to try mindful eating, and I really hope that you will try it, and practice it daily. After a while, you may start to realize you like foods that you didn’t before, and you feel more aware of your body and surroundings in general. You may even feel calmer and happier.
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