Mindful Eating allows us to bring our attention to eating for our health every day. With the holidays approaching this can become more challenging as we are invited to celebration dinners, parties, and family gatherings. When we gather together for the traditional holiday menus we usually overeat and take in much more sugar and other refined products that are not part of our daily healthful eating regime. Below are suggestions that may help you to become more present with your body to help prevent overeating, and become more conscious about the choices of the food selections that you put on your plate. Mindful living includes mindful eating. Your microbiome will thank you!
What does Mindful Eating mean?
When we focus on mindful eating it means to become more aware in one’s focus. For example, we can focus on the food’s flavor, colors, and different textures and pay attention to when we are becoming full.
Preventing Overeating
Mindful eating also includes eating slowly allowing our brain the time to let us know when we are full. We can also choose to eat our vegetables first, which are low in calories and high in fiber. This helps us to feel full. You can also choose to eat a light snack before arriving for dinner.
Servings of Smaller Portions
One of the wonderful things about serving yourself smaller portions is that you can have a taste of everything on the table. Use your mindful eating skills and don’t overload your plate!
Limit your Alcohol Intake
Let’s face it. We were all raised to drink on special occasions and for many other reasons. It’s how most of us were raised; our parents and so on. Not only does alcohol add extra calories to your diet, but Alcohol also weakens heart muscles which can also cause heart failure, which can affect the lungs, brain, liver, and other body systems. Your liver has enough of a challenge over the holidays when you consume foods that contain a lot of sugar. (Really another topic all on its own!)
So if you’re going to drink, drink mindfully.
Bring a Healthy Dish
When you are asked to bring a dish to dinner, you may choose to bring a healthy dish to share. If you are the host asking others to bring a dish, you can also ask them to make a healthy dish to share.
Overindulging with food is challenging for our bodies. Constipation is not healthy. It’s a good idea to see your hydrocolon therapist for a cleanse during or after the holidays to get your microbiome back on the right track. Talk with your hydrocolon therapist to discover what is the best option for you.
Remember to stay hydrated. Drinking sips of water will allow your cells to stay hydrated. Daily exercise is also important. A 30-minute walk does wonders! Or perhaps 100 jumping jacks a day. Physical activity is important for our body’s endurance and overall general health.
Happy Holidays from everyone at Returning Balance Therapies in Glenwood Springs Colorado.
May your days be blessed and filled with grace.
Mindful Eating for the holidays is an excellent idea for overall health and well-being.