Choices, choices
Obviously, somewhere
along the way, we in America have lost touch with the purpose of food. Today,
the supply and amount of food is overwhelming. 24-hour restaurants and grocery
stores, Mega stores, and “forget it
about” sized portions! Most restaurant meals are more than twice the amount
of food one should eat in a meal to stay fit; many contain enough calories for
the entire day.
Mindfulness involves
being aware of our body and its need for food. In mindfulness, we focus in,
rather than out. Focusing in helps us let go of the visual and olfactory
stimulation overwhelming us at the stores and restaurants. The last time you
had a restaurant meal, did you struggle to decide what to order? Did you weigh:
What did I eat this morning?, Yesterday?, and What is the plan for the rest of the
day? or did you just decide “Oooo! This looks good!”. And then pay for it later
with indigestion, sleepiness, or remorse when you realize you did it again and when you step on the
scale.
Mindful eating calls
on us to choose well. Choosing well
means choosing foods that nourish our bodies and fit our meal plan for the day
or week. Basic knowledge of carbs, fats, proteins, and fiber in foods helps. Mindful
eating builds on our knowledge of the values of various foods and what our body
needs to thrive. The bottom line is staying aware.
Of course, sometimes
we may choose to eat the NY cheesecake. When eating mindfully, this becomes a
special treat rather than a daily habit. Treats are just that, treats, not a daily
or several times a day food choice.
An exercise in
choicefulness
Choose one day this
week to track all the food you eat and look up food values on-line or ask the
restaurant for the nutrition information of your meal. Then compare that to
healthy eating guidelines –recommended calories, carbs, fats, proteins, and
fiber recommended for you. Try Mayo Clinic’s Healthy Diet webpage for guidelines.
JME Affirmation for the Day
I
am increasingly aware of how much I eat and what my body needs. As I eat foods
that nourish and sustain me, I grow in respect for myself each day.
My daughter Stephanie gave me the greatest snack ever! Frozen green grapes. Not cold, frozen. It's my new drug of choice!
ReplyDelete"Obviously, somewhere along the way, we in America have lost touch with the purpose of food. Today, the supply and amount of food is overwhelming."
ReplyDeleteI've often thought of the suffering that maintaining this overwhelming supply causes. Especially animal products... I am 100% vegetarian who struggles to maintain a mostly vegan diet. I don't think everyone has to be vegan, but if people cut down on some of these animal products there would be a lot less suffering.