Pamper your senses by engaging all five of them while selecting, preparing, and eating your food!
Notice the sound of sizzling in the pan, or crunching in your mouth.
Observe the natural color variety and richness in fruits and vegetables.
While cooking, your whole kitchen might start smelling delicious, thereby stoking your appetite. Indulge in the aroma of each bite and use your sensitive lips and tongue to experience the mouthfeel.
Appreciate the texture of your food while prepping it and how it changes as it’s cooked.
Note your sense of taste is in your mouth, so give it a chance to explore by slowing down, chewing your food inquisitively, and noticing how the taste and texture change in each moment and with progressive bites.
Use your creativity to name all of these sensory perceptions with interest and gratitude.
Eating mindfully provides an opportunity to appreciate the sensual pleasure of food, and provides a richness to your meal that is joyful and satisfying – especially when shared with others!
What are some of your most memorable sensual pleasures with food experiences? Just last night I had some amazing melt-in-your-mouth sushi that I loved even more with the bite of the wasabi and salty umami taste of the soy sauce. Heavenly! How does thinking about the sensual quality of food affect your cravings? And how does actually slowing down and tasting the food you eat affect both the quality and quantity of your food choices? Take a moment to reflect on these questions.
Ready to improve your relationship with food?
Contact Nicole to learn more about a non-diet approach to nutrition.