Anybody ever hear of mindful eating?

[eliza61]

I went to visit a friend in the hospital today and was given a pamphlet to attend a discussion on "mindful eating"?

Never heard of it. What it's about?

Thanks.

 

[BEloveDisney]

I don't know a whole lot about it.

I think it has to do with eating slowly and paying attention to each bite. Not doing other things while eating (watching tv, reading, etc). Thinking about what you are eating and such. If I remember right, it is supposed to prevent over eating because you eat more slowly and pay attention to what you put in your mouth. I could be wrong though.

 

[scrapquitler]

I never heard of it, but apparently there is a book:
http://www.amazon.com/Eating-Mindfully-Mindless-Balanced-Relationship/dp/1572243503/ref=pd_sim_b_3

And this:
http://www.tcme.org/

 

[clutter]

I don't know a whole lot about it.

I think it has to do with eating slowly and paying attention to each bite. Not doing other things while eating (watching tv, reading, etc). Thinking about what you are eating and such. If I remember right, it is supposed to prevent over eating because you eat more slowly and pay attention to what you put in your mouth. I could be wrong though.

I think I would eat less because I'd be bored to death!

 

[redlight]

Yep, I try to practice it. It's about eating more slowly, savoring each bite, and being aware of what you are eating.

 

[LilyWDW]

I have no idea, but my first thought was that it was for new zombies and how to know what brains are safe to eat...



Yea, I am in an odd mood today!

 

[MushyMushy]

I have a book on mindful eating. It's a great read -- the idea is based on Buddhist principles and makes a lot of sense.

 

[KarenB]

I have no idea, but my first thought was that it was for new zombies and how to know what brains are safe to eat...



Yea, I am in an odd mood today!

I don't know why but this made me laugh really hard!!! Believe me, I needed it!

 

[rie'smom]

It makes sense. Scientists say that it takes 20 minutes for your stomach to register that it's full. If food is inhaled instead of enjoyed, likely too much food will have been eaten before the stomach can send it's signal.

 

[DVCLiz]

I'm sure this would work well for the people who are into it, but all I can think is, "Here comes a fork full of lettuce. Wonder if I will have a sunflower seed in this mouthful? No, just lettuce. Yummy, yummy lettuce. Here's another forkful - yes!! A crouton!!! Score!!!!!"

I'd much rather be "mindful" of good nutrition and portion control - then sit down and eat while I read a magazine or watched TV.

I just can't get that involved with the actual food once it's ready to eat.

 

[C.Ann]

Ironically I was just reading something about this today - in of all places, a non-fiction Amish book.. LOL.. This woman (non-Amish) had such severe allergies to everything and anything (including food) she moved to an Amish area in hopes of being able to focus on only what she absolutely needed (thus not being exposed to chemicals and such) - as well as trying to grow some sort of food that would agree with her.. For the longest time, the only thing she could eat (3 times a day) was some kind of nasty root vegetable she grew.. In order to sustain herself physically (she hated the taste of it, but it didn't make her sick) she had to practice "mindful eating".. Savoring everything about the food: color; texture; aroma; the sight of it on her plate; taking each bite; feeling it on her tongue; chewing it; swallowing it; etc.. (Sounds like it took her an hour or more to eat this "one" thing..)

Anyhow - she continued to practice "mindful eating" with each new thing she grew herself - or obtained from her Amish neighbors - and eventually (over a very, very long period of time) she got up to about 100 things she could eat without becoming extremely ill..

Haven't finished the book yet, but I have to tell you - I really don't think I could eat the things that she was reduced to eating!

 

[rie'smom]

I'm sure this would work well for the people who are into it, but all I can think is, "Here comes a fork full of lettuce. Wonder if I will have a sunflower seed in this mouthful? No, just lettuce. Yummy, yummy lettuce. Here's another forkful - yes!! A crouton!!! Score!!!!!"

I'd much rather be "mindful" of good nutrition and portion control - then sit down and eat while I read a magazine or watched TV.

I just can't get that involved with the actual food once it's ready to eat.

I am mindful of good nutrition. The concept of thinking about what you're eating is a good one.

 

[schmitty]

Everyone in this thread is way off base. Mindful eating when pertaining to a hospital is to not bringing in food from home. Patients seeing home cooked meals are more likely to get depression after compairing it to their hospital food.

 

[DVCLiz]

I am mindful of good nutrition. The concept of thinking about what you're eating is a good one.

I can see thinking, "This is a great steak!" or "these potatoes are a little overcooked" but I can't imagine anything more boring than to think about each bite of food I eat. I like to plan a meal based on nutritional principles but I'm not going to be thinking about what percentage of potassium I'm delivering to my system with each bite of a banana. To me, that kind of person is totally over the top self-absorbed and I can't imagine anything worse than having to eat with them or watch them do it.

I would think you would have to eat all of your meals in solitude if you really wanted to follow that principle - nobody in the real world I know would put up with you for long.

 

[rie'smom]

I can see thinking, "This is a great steak!" or "these potatoes are a little overcooked" but I can't imagine anything more boring than to think about each bite of food I eat. I like to plan a meal based on nutritional principles but I'm not going to be thinking about what percentage of potassium I'm delivering to my system with each bite of a banana. To me, that kind of person is totally over the top self-absorbed and I can't imagine anything worse than having to eat with them or watch them do it.

I would think you would have to eat all of your meals in solitude if you really wanted to follow that principle - nobody in the real world I know would put up with you for long.

I don't mean this. I just meant that sometimes people shovel food and don't even stop to realize how delicious it is. My point is chew slowly and enjoy a meal.

 

[DVCLiz]

I don't mean this. I just meant that sometimes people shovel food and don't even stop to realize how delicious it is. My point is chew slowly and enjoy a meal.

I agree with you about that! I just think there's a happy medium there - and I think someone who has to adopt a "philosophy" about eating a meal probably takes it to an extreme.

 

[NotUrsula]

I've got family by marriage who are seriously into this movement (well, Buddhist "mindfulness" in general, as well).

Eating with these folks has become an absolutely insufferable experience now; I simply will not share food with them anymore, nothing more than a glass of water (which they will not allow to be "adulterated" with ice, mind you, because artificially altering the temperature of drinking water ruins the experience.)

While I'm all for taking your time and appreciating flavors and even textures, these folks take it way beyond that. They have turned eating into something that more closely resembles a sexual experience, and they do it out loud. (They have even been known to moan at the table.) Every bite they take is discussed and analysed for deeper spiritual meaning, and honestly, listening to it is embarassing. Sometimes I just want to tell them to, please, take their butternut squash and get a room.

 

[rie'smom]

I've got family by marriage who are seriously into this movement (well, Buddhist "mindfulness" in general, as well).

Eating with these folks has become an absolutely insufferable experience now; I simply will not share food with them anymore, nothing more than a glass of water (which they will not allow to be "adulterated" with ice, mind you, because artificially altering the temperature of drinking water ruins the experience.)

While I'm all for taking your time and appreciating flavors and even textures, these folks take it way beyond that. They have turned eating into something that more closely resembles a sexual experience, and they do it out loud. (They have even been known to moan at the table.) Every bite they take is discussed and analysed for deeper spiritual meaning, and honestly, listening to it is embarassing. Sometimes I just want to tell them to, please, take their butternut squash and get a room.

The last part is hysterical.

 

[sbell111]

It makes sense. Scientists say that it takes 20 minutes for your stomach to register that it's full. If food is inhaled instead of enjoyed, likely too much food will have been eaten before the stomach can send it's signal.

I take that as a challenge. How much can I cram in before tummy notices?

 

[Kathi OD]

I've got family by marriage who are seriously into this movement (well, Buddhist "mindfulness" in general, as well).

Eating with these folks has become an absolutely insufferable experience now; I simply will not share food with them anymore, nothing more than a glass of water (which they will not allow to be "adulterated" with ice, mind you, because artificially altering the temperature of drinking water ruins the experience.)

While I'm all for taking your time and appreciating flavors and even textures, these folks take it way beyond that. They have turned eating into something that more closely resembles a sexual experience, and they do it out loud. (They have even been known to moan at the table.) Every bite they take is discussed and analysed for deeper spiritual meaning, and honestly, listening to it is embarassing. Sometimes I just want to tell them to, please, take their butternut squash and get a room.

This made me laugh, but How do you keep a straight face? I think I'd be falling off the chair.