Pairing mealtimes with a mobile or screen is common nowadays, not just with kids but with adults too. This habit is known as mindless eating. Screen distracts our brain from internal satiety signals which leads to over eating. Our digestion generally begins after looking at or smelling our food then our brain releases saliva and other digestive enzymes. Screen distracts the brain and gut connection which can lead to poor digestion.
Mindful eating means paying full attention to the taste, smell, and colors of your food in front of you. Ayurveda suggests chewing each bite about 32 times. By this method we can chew our food in smaller pieces and it gets mixed with saliva in our mouth. It is said that food which is not chewed properly creates Ama means toxic, sticky residue which our body creates when our food is not digested properly. Properly chewed food reduces load on the gut which prevents bloating and gas.
Show gratitude for your food, not complaints.
Eat slowly, Give your stomach time to send satiety signals to your brain.
Aligning meals with the sun
Eating with the Sun, this means daylight eating only. A small healthy breakfast. Lunch, which is the important meal of the day because our Jatharagni (digestive fire) is at its peak between 12:00 AM and 2:00 PM, we can have a healthy nutrient packed meal to take advantage of our maximum digestive capacity. A light meal for dinner before the sun goes down.
For late-night workers you can choose light, easy-to-digest meals such as soups or small portions of dal and rice or moong khichadi.
How can I try Mindful Eating?
Keep all your devices away from the dining table.
Try to pay attention to the texture and flavor of each bite you consume, this will help your gut to provide correct digestive responses. Chew food properly, this will help for digestion.
Practicing gratitude for your every meal.
Eat Right and live bright.