Mindful eating – Learn how to eat mindfully

Published on April 16, 2019 – Last Updated on March 13, 2024

Introduction to mindful eating

What is Mindful Eating? Is it certainly not mainstream? If it were better understood, far more people would adopt this ancient practice as a healthy lifestyle choice. From my personal experience, individuals will be happier, have a stronger connection to the earth, and their well-being, health, and vitality will be significantly enhanced. This article will give you some advanced tips to enjoy daily mindful eating. Read below and feel free to distribute to others the mindful eating infographics.

Overview

Many spiritual paths and religious groups traditionally practice mindful eating or eating mindfully. More recently, It is practiced in alternative communities, retreat and meditation centers, and among conscious individuals. In essence, what it means: food is grown or raised with mindful awareness, then prepared and eaten in mindful silence. Follow our step-by-step guide on eating mindfully and enjoying a better and healthier lifestyle.

Preparation to eat a healthy, mindful meal

Living with the knowledge that all food has consciousness, those practicing mindful eating consciously prepare themselves and their food before eating. Hands and faces should be washed, appropriate clean clothing worn, and those involved in the preparation to meditate for at least fifteen minutes immediately before ‘hands-on’ in the kitchen. All matter has consciousness, and consciousness is affected by emotions. If a helper arrives upset or angry, they must meditate immediately to calm their nerves, regain their composure, and shift any unconscious thoughts/feelings into calmer, quieter, and more peaceful even if one feels unbalanced or is not in their highest consciousness, meditating before any preparation will return them to a place of connection, surrender, and service.

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‘Helpers’ at any of the worldwide Vipassana meditation centers volunteer their time to prepare and serve all organic vegetarian meals for those attending Vipassana meditation ‘sits. This is done, so all food maintains the highest frequency as close as possible to the consciousness present before the plants were picked. Helpers also meditate before entering the kitchen, do not talk while working, and serve and clean in silence. These subtle efforts support those attending the meditation sessions as it maintains their calm, meditative progress.

Vegetables and Meat:

Generally speaking, plants have a light, calm consciousness from growing on Earth. In contrast, meat has a lower and heavier consciousness as its preparation involves levels of fear and stress from transport and being herded into unnatural surroundings awaiting slaughter. Their anxiety or stress releases stress chemicals directly into the body that passes into the meat, and the consumer digests that.
Any individual seeking the subtle shifts in consciousness arising from mindful eating can adopt the same philosophy and undertakings whether they are cooking for themselves or a group of friends.

Conscious awareness / mindful eating:

Maintaining conscious awareness of food preparation and consumption requires a different approach. Here, the vibration of the person preparing the food is one dedicated to preserving their highest personal vibration in physical practice and spiritual and mental development.
All external influences need to be considered. Any conflicting energies that may distract or lower their conscious vibration must be minimized. For example, loud TV, radio channels, or specific music genres can reduce a person’s consciousness. Unrelated conversations can affect this, as will drugs, smoking, and alcohol.
The same applies to any individual preparing and cooking a meal at home.
Food should be carefully washed and placed in clean containers. The kitchen should be clean and uncluttered, with all benchtops wiped. During preparation, cooking, and serving, the highest levels of conscious awareness are maintained.

It acknowledges Mother Earth’s bountiful offerings as she surrenders some of this bounty up for the enjoyment and nourishment of others. The connection through Mother Earth with the moon’s cycles, whose soft light has been part of the growth phases of plants. The same also applies to the growing energy provided by the sun and to the rain that has fallen, the wind, and the insects that have been part of the whole process.
Appreciation also is given to those involved in the growing, harvesting, packaging, and transportation of produce. All workers engaged in the whole food industry for their hard work, shopkeepers, fruit growers, and drivers. All can be included in sincere appreciation and gratitude for their respective roles in bringing the food to the table.

Conclusion – Eating mindfully

All preparations are complete, and the food is ready to be served. Incense lit or fresh flowers are bought to the table. A simple prayer can be offered. All meals should be eaten slowly and chewed thoroughly. Turn off all electronic gadgets, mobile phones, TV, etc. Play some nice relaxing or peaceful music in the background. Eat as if you were sitting in the middle of a forest, and all the food on your plate came from the forest around you. You appreciate every animal and bird, the sounds of the streams, the wind above in the trees, the shafts of mottled light touching the forest floor. All are associated in some way with the nourishment you are placing in your body. Observe the soft energy from combining these elements as they move into and throughout your whole body, nourishing and revitalizing it and your entire being.

How can meditation help you maintain helpful and mindful eating daily?

First of all, please view the benefits of the meditation infographic, which lists the most important aspects of health that can be improved by practicing meditation. By eating slowly and enjoying the meal in the present moment, you can unify the mind and body, which improves general health. Alongside the tips presented in this article, you can try the meditation “Eat Slowly,” which can be found in our MindTastik mobile app. Eat slowly guided meditation will help you:

• Be more conscious of the food you are eating
• Feel calmer when you sit down to eat
• Help you savor every bit of food in a mindful way
• Eat less because you allow time for the mind and body to process the food slowly.

If you want to enjoy some mindfulness eating exercises & guided meditations that will help you eat more presents, try out our guided meditation app, which can be found in both stores by searching: MindTastik.