Mindfulness means focusing on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting your feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. We can also apply mindfulness when we nourish our bodies.

Although the ideal mindful-eating food choices are like the Mediterranean diet — centered on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, nuts, and vegetable oils — the technique can be applied to a cheeseburger and fries. By truly paying attention to the food you eat, you may indulge in these types of foods less often. In essence, mindful eating means being fully attentive to your food — as you buy, prepare, serve, and consume it. However, adopting the practice may take more than a few adjustments in the way you approach meals and snacks.

When hunger arises, a small, healthy snack can be quite satisfying. Something as simple as a handful of mixed nuts can be enough to tide you over, helping you approach your next meal without feeling the urge to overeat.But often we turn to snacking not out of physical, but emotional hunger. Cravings arise out of anxiety and stress and boredom has us staring into our cupboards and refrigerator. In these cases, food may provide a temporary distraction from our feelings, though it will not truly bring us peace or satisfaction. So how do we transform this autopilot response? A mindful breath is a good way for your body to ‘snack’ on some mindfulness and recognize and embrace strong feelings that may be there. After a mindful breath, you may have less desire to go and fill up with a snack to distract yourself. Your body is nourished by your breath. The next time you feel those familiar cravings arise, take a moment to check-in with yourself. Are you physically hungry? If not, breathe, and transform your response into a snack of a different kind: ‘Breathing in, I feel nourished and satisfied by my in-breath. Breathing out, I release my cravings.’

Attend a free class on Mindful Eating presented by Jackie Cordova at the RGCF on Saturday March 12, 10:30 am. Call 915-562-7660 to reserve your space. Visit www.rgcf.org for more information.

Sources: http://www.savorthebook.com/blog/editor/2015/07/10...

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