Eating is intimately connected to mindfulness, well at least healthy eating is anyway. This is because vegetables, fruits and meats come from nature, the very source of our own being. We, like every other living organism, are part of a beautifully interconnected world, and at the root of mindfulness is having a heightened awareness of this connectivity, a compulsion to nurture it, and being there in the moment to witness its beauty.
Because of the abundance of food we have and how regularly we eat, mostly we take eating for granted, seldom appreciating its importance to our existence and the beauty of the food we consume. So, I think it’s about time we all ate a mindful meal and really connected with this source of life. In a similar fashion to concentrating on the breath, we are going to concentrate on our meal. Next time you eat some fruit or vegetables, try this mindful eating approach:
1. Smell the food as you raise it on your fork or spoon.
2. See the shape of the food and analyse its intricate design as you bring it closer to your mouth.
3. Place the food slowly on your tongue and chew it slowly.
4. Let the food tangle with your tongue. Feel each texture with the sensors on your tongue , gums and teeth.
5. Visualise the process the food went through before getting to your plate; the seed, the rainfall, the nurture, the harvesting.
6. Chew at least seven times before swallowing.
7. Feel the food sink down your throat and make its way down into your stomach.
7. And finally rest in the awareness of this blessing for a moment before taking the next mouthful.
I promise this will be the best meal you’ve eaten in years!
Enjoy your mindful meal!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Meat? You eat dead bodies? That is mindfulness?
Where possible I try to keep to organic product that supports ethical farming practices.