Graceful Awareness ~ part 1 ~ Food and Eating

I spotted the bright sun just beyond the bedroom curtains the moment I opened my eyes. Thursday ~ Mindfulness Living Course day. Today [Thursday], week two. This week, we expanded our mindfulness practise to the senses: mindfulness as a sensory experience. Eating. Walking. And breathing, always breathing.

Mindfulness eating reminds me to chew my food. It reminds me that chewing my food somehow enhances its flavour.

 And, if I remain aware of my eating, as in awareness on a physical, sensory level, I lessen the likelihood that I will overeat.

The mindfulness eating exercise made me wonder about a link between the societal epidemic of obesity and the mindlessness with which we approach food and eating.

We shovel the food from our plate into our mouths, sometimes without ever chewing it. Typically, while we eat, we engage in some other activity, such as reading or watching TV. Before we know it, we've eaten our plate all up, without much awareness of what it felt like, tasted like, smelled like.

Perhaps that makes us want more?

Photograph by Gourmeted