Here’s a very basic idea: eating changes both body and mind, i.e. the total of who we are. What we eat and how much we eat changes who we are physiologically. Why we eat and how we eat changes who we are psychologically. Mindless eating changes us for the worse. Mindful eating changes us for the better.
Mindless eating changes us for the worse: to the extent to which mindless overeating leads to weight gain, body expands; mind shrinks (metaphorically speaking) because we miss out on the experience; and the total of our wellbeing suffers and declines. (Click on the image to enlarge).
Mindful eating changes us for the better: the body shrinks (mindful eating prevents overeating), the mind expands (in the sense that we’re able to enjoy the actual experience of eating; in the sense that we are able to recognize meditational & existential opportunities in eating); the total of our wellbeing improves. (Click on the image to enlarge).
Pavel Somov, Ph.D., author of "Eating the Moment: 141 Mindful Practices to Overcome Overeating One Meal at a Time" (New Harbinger, 2008) www.eatingthemoment.com
Pavel I like this. Mindful eating, mindful cooking. Mindful of the piece of food you are lifting to your mouth. Real food, organic food, food that didn't poison habitat to get to your plate. What is that term, for creating dishes "by a pinch, a handful", Indian? Soul-foodness. Food that nourishes the land, food that doesn't cause algae blooms causing seals to die, because of petro-chemical fertilizer washed downstream.
Choices we make with our pocketbook, to support organic local growers/farmers. Food that they make so delicious, we remember vine-ripened fruit, and become whole again…
Thank you my brother, Jas
Jas, thanks for your passionate reply.
Pavel
Pavel Somov, Ph.D., licensed psychologist, author of "Eating the Moment: 141 Mindful Practices to Overcome Overeating One Meal at a Time" (New Harbinger, 2008) and of "Present Perfect: a Mindfulness Approach to Letting Go of Perfectionism" (NH, 2010)