When you eat, just eat. (I know, radical idea, right?)
Turn off the TV, step away from your computer, park your car.
Put. Down. Your. Phone.
When your attention is divided, you are unable to be fully present for the meal before you. If you are mindless to what you are eating, it’s unlikely you’ll be attentive to the sensory pleasure of your food and it’s near impossible to stay tuned into your body’s cues of satiety.
Distracted eaters have been shown to eat faster, forget what they ate, and feel significantly less full after eating, thus affecting meal size later in the day (Oldham-Cooper et al. 2011).
As often as possible, eat meals in a pleasant environment, free of stress or tension, and with adequate time to slow down and appreciate your food. Does that sound radical?
Give it a try, even if it’s only for one meal (or part of a meal!) each day. We’re going for awareness, not perfection or rigid rules. If you are a habitual multi-tasker while eating, it might feel awkward at first, but the outcome will be scrumptious!
Ready to improve your relationship with food?
Contact Nicole to learn more about a non-diet approach to nutrition.