Meditative eating

Meditative Eating

Eating is a very important aspect of our life. It affects not only our body and its health but also has a profound impact on our well being, moods, behavior, energy, emotions and happiness.

A Roman poet, Horace once very rightly said, "Clogged with yesterdays excess, the body drags the mind down with it". The phrase holds true even the other way round- with the mind dragged down to a state of semi-consciousness, the body gets clogged with excesses.
One needs to focus and be alert when eating or in other words follow meditative eating.

Meditative eating is about getting absolutely involved with the conscious pleasures of eating in order to achieve supreme satisfaction with food. It involves tasting, savoring, relishing, enjoying, and appreciating what you eat or drink. In fact, it can be a great way to relax and get away from our tension and stress packed life.

A very good example of meditative eating is the Japanese tea party, where each and every sip of that amber colored liquid is savored in an ambience that is absolutely serene.


Tips on meditative eating:

Enjoy every bite with minimum distractions
Very often we couple eating with activities like watching television, reading or studying, driving or even when talking on the phone. "Lunch meeting" is another commonly heard excuse. This way we are mindlessly packing in bite after bite and are likely to eat faster, more or even less without being really aware of it. So when you sit down to eat, do nothing else but eat.
Bring back the age-old tradition of eating at the dining table, which is fast diminishing.

Appease your senses
Remember, eating involves all the five senses i.e. sense of sight, taste, touch, smell and you may wonder but even the sense of hearing.
Have you ever passed a bakery and stood there for a few seconds just to capture the mouth-watering aroma of the freshly baked bread?
Well, when you sit to eat, satisfy your senses to enjoy the full pleasure of eating.
Relish the appetizing aroma of a baked goodie and savor the coolness of the nimboo-pani or the heat of steaming soup. Enjoy the crunch that carrot makes and take in the different colors which food has to offer. And don't forget texture- delight in the crispness of dosa and enjoy the soft and fluffy idli.

Eat slowly
Do not gorge on food, eat slowly. When you eat fast, you eat unconsciously and so you over-stuff yourself.
Eating fast may also result in belching. Don't be under the impression that belching is the ultimate compliment you can pay after a hearty, sumptuous meal. In fact, most people around you may find it offending.
Many of us have a tendency to eat fast while experiencing an emotional high and almost invariably end up eating like a horse. Learn to use foods to nourish your body and not to pacify your emotions.

Emphasize the food tastes you like
Food is enjoyed most when it tastes great. Identify the flavors that appeal to your taste buds and use them to accentuate your meals. It could be seasonings and condiments like pepper, garlic, ginger, oregano, basil, cinnamon, lemons etc.

Go for variety
Look back over the month. Feel you are in a rut, making the same meal and snack choices?
Just as you are bored with the same routine, our sense of smell and taste also tend to become fatigued and less responsive when faced with bite after bite of the same flavor and aroma. Also, diets lacking in variety are likely to lack in essential nutrients and hence affect your health in the long run.
Learn to experiment in the kitchen and expand the variety of foods used in cooking. You eat rice and chapati everyday. Well, they are just a part of the total grain picture. Try including cereals like jowar, bajra, maize, ragi (nachni), oats etc. in your diet.

Create a peaceful ambience
The surrounding in which you eat is very important. Often, we have the television on or some loud music playing in the background. Switch off the television or put on some pleasing music. Avoid arguments when eating, as most of us tend to vent our anger on food.

Health benefits of meditative eating:
For people who want to lose weight, meditative eating is the answer. Learn to include color, flavor, aroma and taste when cooking low calorie foods. Use of fresh herbs and spices not only enhances the flavor but also helps to reduce the need of fat as a flavoring in food.
Do not omit your favorite foods because they are calorie-dense. Banning a favorite food may give rise to compulsive overeating binges. Eating small amounts of your favorite foods is successful management and not a loss of control.

For people who want to gain weight, practice meditative eating and soon you shall be relishing your food and including a variety of foods in your diet.

An important cause of obesity and related disorders like cardiovascular disease is incorrect eating habits. Meditative eating helps to control the food cravings and mindless packing of food.

Take to meditative eating for the ultimate gastronomic delight!