Mindful Eating and How to Start
From the second you discover you are pregnant, a healthy diet becomes a priority. There are certain foods you should avoid altogether and others that can help manage morning sickness.
But it turns out, equally important is HOW and WHERE you eat your meals and snacks.
Are all food choices rushed and on the go?
Is there thought and preparation put into your meals and snacks?
Mindfulness has become a buzzword that has risen in popularity since the 1980s. But have you ever heard of mindful eating? Mindful eating is the experience of engaging in all parts of our body, our heart and our mind, in choosing, preparing, and eating.
Unfortunately, we cannot eat mindfully 100% of the time. With a busy lifestyle and a growing family, consistent mindful eating is really unlikely...
However, a good starting point is sitting down while eating.
1. Take the time to sit at a table.
2. Enjoy the simple pleasure of a place setting and a glass of water.
--> The short- and long-term benefits for you and your family are worth it!
Sitting helps prevent grab-and-go snacking and forces you to think about your food choices. Scientists have shown that most of the foods we eat standing up are low in nutritional value and high in empty calories. A study published last year in the Journal of American Dietetics showed that adults who eat on the run consume more fast/processed foods, soft drinks and generally less healthy food than their peers who make time to sit down.
Sitting while eating is also the foundation for family meals. A Harvard Medical School survey found that the elementary age children who ate dinner with their families ate more fruits and vegetables and less soda and fried foods. Their diets also had higher amounts of many key nutrients, like calcium, iron, and fiber. Other studies have shown that teenagers who have family meals have higher academic performance, higher self-esteem, and lower rates of obesity!
Sitting for a meal can be as nourishing as the food you put in your body. So the next time you decide what you will eat, also think about how you will eat it. You and your family will benefit from making this a priority!
With warmth and wellness,
Your EmmaWell Team
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