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Healthy Eating by Shelby Shelby

Try Mindful Eating This Holiday Season

The holiday season is a wonderful time full of fellowship, fun, and, of course, food. These hallmarks of the holiday are to be enjoyed, but as a dietitian I often hear that the holiday season is a difficult time for sticking with health goals. My favorite recommendation for this time of year is to try mindful eating at your holiday party!

Mindful eating encourages you to be present while you eat. Really taste your food, smell the aromas, and pay attention to your hunger and fullness. Mindful eating can help you enjoy the holidays more and feel satisfied with less, helping you stick with your health goals. Follow these tips to try mindful eating this holiday.

1.Slow down- Too often we gobble down our food and don’t really get to enjoy the taste. Savor the food on your plate by taking your time eating it. This will help you taste every morsel and you may find you are satisfied without seconds.

2.Pay attention- Choose your favorite foods and pay attention to how tasty they are. Don’t get distracted from the enjoyment of the meal. Take a moment to evaluate the taste of your food—is it as good as you remember? This may help you choose to eat only the foods you like leading to greater satisfaction and less uncomfortable fullness at your holiday gathering.

3.Don’t come starving- Don’t approach the table starving or skip all of your meals before Thanksgiving dinner. You may not be able to be mindful if you are this hungry. You may also overeat and feel discomfort after your meal. Instead, have smaller meals throughout the day to help you approach the holiday buffet mindfully.

4.Feel your fullness- Take a moment mid-meal to evaluate how full you are. If you are filling up, slow down on the meal. You can always come back for more if you are hungry later. It is hard to be mindful when you are uncomfortably full from overeating.

 
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