Eat, Drink and Be Mindful

The concept of Mindful Eating has been gaining popularity over the past couple years. You may hear your dietitian talking about it or your girlfriend who are trying to lose some weight doing this mindful eating practice. But what exactly does it mean to be a mindful eater?

In my culture, December to January are all about celebrations. One holiday party followed by another…and another until Chinese New Year !! Whether you want to avoid overeating and gaining those extra weight, you need to control your blood sugar (if you have diabetes), or you simply wish to consume only what your body requires, the holiday season can make that goal challenging.

MINDFUL EATING MIGHT HELP YOU REACH THE GOAL 

I use mindful eating strategies in my dietetic practice and personal life. I found that it helps me to rediscover a healthy and joyful relationship with foods.

Mindfulness is a powerful way to bring balance into every aspect of how we eat. It involves cultivating a combination of “inner wisdom” (awareness of how our body and mind are responding) and “outer wisdom” (engaging nutrition information and recommendations to meet your own personal needs and preferences).

Mindfulness refers to the practice of being aware and in the moment, without judgement.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF MINDFUL EATING 

• Help with weight management (here, here, here)
• Help diners feel more in control in their eating (here)
• Reduced disordered eating pattern (here, here)
• Improve glycemic control for those living with diabetes (here)
• Reduced perceived stress (here)

BOTTOM LINE

Yes, Mindful Eating has many health benefits, however, it is very challenging to practice. It takes lot of work and dedication to completely in tune with your hunger and satiety signals.

Stay tune for next week blogpost “Steps to Eat Mindfully“.

Did you know that I offer personalized nutrition counselling for kids and families? If this is something you’s like to learn more about, please Contact Me.