A lot of my clients ask me what to eat. Very few ask me how to eat.
Of course the type of food you’re eating makes a difference. Sure, you can eat Twinkies and lose weight, but I wouldn’t call that a nutritious and healthy diet.
The major struggle for many of my clients is portion size. Restaurant portions are usually triple the amount we should actually be eating (my husband discovered Eat This, Not That and loves to read me his favorites).
However, even making dinner at home can still be a slippery slope of comfort foods and second servings.
The real challenge is always listed as willpower. If they could only resist, they would be good, thin, healthy people; they can’t resist because it just tastes so good. So I ask them how fast they’re eating that tasty food.
…Oh.
They usually haven’t thought about that. And that’s the problem.
The solution? Mindfulness.
My favorite example of this is using chocolate.
Imagine sitting down in front of the TV in your pajamas with a bag of M&Ms. You can plow on through that bag no problem, only noticing when your hand hits the bottom.
Now, picture yourself sitting at a fancy restaurant with a white tablecloth and soft candlelight. The waiter brings you a small serving of chocolate mousse with a petite silver spoon. You take a tiny bite of the intensely rich dessert and can barely stand to eat more.
Which version sounds like the way you eat most of your meals?
To address this exact issue, I’m teaching a series of workshops on the ideas of mindfulness. My first workshop is this Thursday!
Mindful Eating: The Buddhist Perspective
Do you feel like you’re rushing through life? Do you eat meals standing up, in the car, or at your desk? Are you fatigued, bloated, or carrying extra weight?
There are many perspectives on mindfulness, and this workshop will focus on ideas from the book Savor by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Even if you eat a healthy diet, the key may be not what you eat, but how you eat. Join me and learn:
- The Four Noble Truths and how they relate to food and health
- The Seven Practices of the Mindful Eater
- Mindless Eating Traps and how to avoid them
You’ll also be led through several mindfulness exercises featuring tea hand-chosen from Halcyon Tea and gluten-free and vegan treats from local bakery Gemini Desserts.
Each participant will get extra treats and a food journal template to take home and practice what you learn. There will also be ample discussion time to ask questions about how to fit these ideas in to your own life.
Invest an hour in your own health and well-being.
“A teacher cannot give you the truth. The truth is already in you. A teacher can only offer you the chance to awaken your true self.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
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