It sounds “buzzy” but today I inhaled my my lunch in between errands and it sat funny all day. I sat down after my son was in bed and realised I hadn’t had dinner. It was too late to cook. It dawned on me that I had fallen back into some bad habits. As a mum, you learn to eat on the fly, usually leftovers or fast food eaten as a second thought because you forgot for most of the day. We come second after we have kids (or third or fourth) and so does getting fed.
Fact is, however, our mental and physical wellness starts in the gut. It’s no secret that if we have bad gut health everything else suffers, so why do we let it slide so easily? Perhaps because it’s not a visible change. Or not instantaneous. Whatever the case, as I always say on this blog, when you are at your best, so is your family and your work. You have to take care of you.
Mindful eating is a good place to start and from my perspective far outweighs any fad diets.
What is mindful eating?
Mindful eating is a form of meditation. It’s about giving full attention to your experiences, cravings, and physical cues when eating. It’s the opposite of mums on the run! Eating to maintain health and well-being involves eating slowly and without distraction. Sounds like an impossibility for us, but I promise you, if you prioritise it, you will find the time.
So what can we do?
Here are 4 things to consider according to Harvard Health.
Listen to your body: physical hunger cues and eat only until you’re full
Engage your senses: When you’re cooking, serving, and eating your food, be attentive to colour, texture, aroma, and even the sounds different foods make as you prepare them.
Gratitude: Pause for a minute or two before you begin eating to contemplate everything and everyone it took to bring the meal to your table.
Chew thoroughly. Chew each mouthful 20 to 40 times. You might be surprised at all the flavours that are released.
Where do we find the time?
It’s hard to find time, but only because you aren’t prioritising you. We find time for what’s important and if your health is at the top of the list all the other important things will flourish.
I’ll be sure to write another post soon on time management as a busy, corporate mum. It’s not easy, but I hope you’ll give it a try.
Try to notice how food makes you feel and remember what you put in your body today, will determine how you feel tomorrow.
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