Eating Mindfully, and with Gratitude
During the holiday season, the pleasures of eating together can nourish more than just our bodies - especially if we bring mindfulness to the table.
The Christmas holiday is coming up in the U.S. in just a few weeks. It’s a time when many of us gather with family and friends to gratefully acknowledge the many gifts we’ve been given and to enjoy life’s bounty. Even if you spend the holiday alone, I hope you will participate in appreciation and treat yourself to something special: mindful eating
One way to practice mindfulness is by giving the food on our plates (and in our mouths) our full attention and appreciation. We can pause to take in the array of colors, flavors, and smells. We can reflect on the Earth’s amazing ability to create an endless variety of nutritious foods out of the same basic elements. We can reflect on the vast web of living beings involved in producing and bringing this food to our table. Eating mindfully, we feel deeply nourished in body and spirit.
Holiday meals -, alone or with others - , are opportunities to tune in to the joys available right now. And since happiness is contagious, when others see how happy we are, they will also be uplifted!
Mindful eating is just one example of how to bring awareness and appreciation to a daily activity that we normally take for granted. Subscribe to MindBlog, our monthly newsletter, to learn more ways to enrich your life with mindfulness.
