I’ve heard the expression “mindful eating” many times but it’s finally hit me what that means. I thought it sounded good and just meant watching that you eat healthy. But I’ve changed my definition to mean more than that. I recently began to observe how some people almost seem to inhale their food. Lately 2 people I see regularly are really annoying me when with their usual teasing about how slowly I eat. I’ve heard it my whole life. “You take forever to eat.” “I should arrive 20 minutes after you so I don’t have to wait so long for you to finish.”

When I was a DoorMat, I’d feel guilty and try to eat faster. But that gives me indigestion, and I don’t feel satisfied. Now I just eat as slow as I like. But these 2 people have gotten very irritating with their barbs about my eating pace. They both shovel and swallow, as I see it. And not surprising, they both tend to overeat and have weight AND digestion issues. Yet they pick on me, who has her weight and digestion under control. I doubt they even see that. They’re just in a hurry to leave the table and hate waiting for me. As I thought about it, I realized that I eat mindfully.

Mindful eating, for me, is being conscious of everything you eat—each bite—and how you eat it.

I watch the inhalers in amazement and sometimes ask if they even taste what goes into their mouths. It feels like it goes in and down too fast to taste what they’re eating, no less enjoy it. I not only taste each bite, I enjoy them. To me that’s mindful eating—being conscious of what goes in your mouth, how you chew it, and savoring—I mean really savoring—the flavor. This kind of mindful eating has several HUGE benefits. When you enjoy every bite slowly, it’s easier to get satisfied with eating less. That helps with weight control!

Your stomach will thank you too when you eat slowly and chew your food with more care.  Digestion is easier when food goes down after being broken up a lot by your chompers. This can also make nutrients more available to your body. Plus, the process—enjoying your food—leaves you feeling much more satisfied after you finish. My two friends can’t be satisfied after a meal. They may feel full for a while, thanks to bloating from indigestion. But they barely taste their food and always look for the next treat.

For me, mindful eating is an act of self-love. I’m mindful of putting healthy food in my body as much as possible, and also mindful of enjoying what I eat.

Now I try not to eat with people who rush me. It’s unpleasant I no longer eat faster to please them. Instead, I hit them back with why they should try to eat my way. They balk as their plates empty quickly as I slowly eat my soup, with my sandwich still untouched. I don’t care! Now I do what I know is best for me! I highly recommend getting more mindful about your food. Take smaller bites, chew it longer and be conscious of the flavors. Up your level of enjoyment! That feels good and says, “I love me!”
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