Mindfulness is another word for awareness. In life, it means being fully present, in whatever moment you find yourself. It means to acknowledge your emotions as you experience them, and in doing so, learn how to manage them.
Mindful eating takes this self-awareness and applies it to the way you think about and consume food. Instead of focusing on calories and scale numbers, it gives you a way to improve your body’s natural instincts and control mechanisms. Some practitioners report a reduction in depression and anxiety, plus sustainable weight loss. By slowing down and paying attention, eating mindfully helps you manage what seems unmanageable.
How and what we eat has so much to do with our emotions. Feeling sad? Eat some ice cream! Nervous? Munch on some pretzels. Bored? I bet there’s something in the fridge. Think about the times you’ve overindulged because you were upset. Or the times you’ve eaten mindlessly, only to discover that you’ve finished off an entire bucket of popcorn without meaning to. Eating this way robs you of the opportunity to truly enjoy the experience of cooking and eating flavorful, nutritious food.
At Cooking Healthy Academy, we understand the hold certain foods can have over your life. We also understand how easy it is to fall into bad habits because you’re stressed out and overextended. We want to help you gain control over your eating habits, and the emotions that drive them.
Once you change the way you think about food, you may be surprised at how much easier it is to stay on track! The biggest breakthrough you make might be to simply pay attention.
Mindful eating encourages you to understand the triggers that make you want to overeat. It helps you recognize these triggers and pay attention to the way your body feels when it’s full.
We practice eating mindfully as a way to slow down and take control of our eating habits. As we cook together, we help you
- Identify what triggers your cravings or binges.
- Redirect your attention to the act of cooking and eating, so you can savor the flavors and textures in every bite.
- Understand and appreciate the nutrition your food contains and the benefits it brings to your life.
We believe in using the art and act of cooking – chopping, stirring, and sauteeing – to better our eating habits and our lives. Join us as we cook, laugh, and grow together!
