One of the biggest benefits to becoming a mindful eater is that you can start improving your relationship with food. If you come from a past of dieting to control your weight, food anxiety, or food fears, mindful eating is a wonderful practice to add into your life.
You Appreciate Food for What it is
The first way mindful eating helps with your relationship with food is by helping you to fully appreciate food for what it is, instead of being afraid of it. No matter your history with food and dieting, you may have some fear foods. These are foods that you get anxiety around if offered them at a party, or that you never keep in the house because you feel like you can’t control how much you eat.
But, mindful eating helps you to make all foods neutral, so no food is good or bad — that all food nourishes you in different ways. It makes you understand that your day, mood, hunger, cravings, time of the month and so many other factors dictate your satisfaction from different types of foods.
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All Your Senses are Activated
You will use each and every sense you have during your meals. You better understand different flavors, colors, textures, smells, and sounds with your food, which further helps it all to become allowed in your diet. The more you can focus on your senses, the less you will focus on biases you have toward certain “unhealthy” foods.
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You Experience Less Guilt and Shame
The reason people often have a bad relationship with food is from a diet mentality. This can lead you to fearing food, and experiencing a lot of guilt and shame over your food choices. Luckily, mindful eating lessens these emotions and instead you simply enjoy the experience of eating.
You Can Enjoy All Types of Food
Mindful eating helps you accept all foods, as well as how to fit them all into your life. There is a place for everything, from grilled chicken and salads, to pastries and popcorn. Mindful eating helps you slowly discover the foods you love, and the foods you don’t.
