MINDFUL EATING FOR WEIGHT LOSS

According to several studies, 48%* of New Year’s Resolutions included weight loss. Are you one of them? If you are, we want to make sure you stick to your resolution past February 1^st , and here’s how: They say if you give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day, teach him to cook, and he will eat for a lifetime. Mindful Eating means no more crash dieting, self-deprivation or starvation, it means having a healthy, meaningful and mindful relationship with food. It’s all about building the right tools to help you lose the weight and keep it off. Mindful eating is about being present and aware of what you’re eating while you’re eating. You are paying attention to your food, appreciating it, and enjoying the experience of eating it. Through mindful eating, you gain techniques to help control your eating habits, as well as ways to help heal eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and various food-related behaviours. How to practice mindful eating:

• Eat slowly and without distractions
• Eat only when you are hungry, and stop when you are full
• Identify true hunger and non-hunger triggers for eating (e.g. emotional eating)
• Notice colors, smells, sounds, textures, and flavors
• Try to understand your anxiety about food
• Notice the effects food has on your feelings
• Be thankful and appreciative of your food as you eat

Make your resolutions focused on the right goals! Be mindful of your goals. By changing your focus to overall goals such as wellness, weight loss can (and most likely will) still by a by-product but with other more satisfactory benefits. These benefits can include having more energy, increased stamina, and better sleep. By just focusing your goals on weight loss, there might be too much attention on food and body image. This is a negative relationship that can lead to cycles of overeating/undereating, crash dieting, and creates a negative perception of food. Try shifting to a healthier lifestyle, with different goals that are more satisfactory, such as;

• • eating more plants,
  • getting enough sleep,
  • drinking more water,
  • consuming less sugar and processed foods,
  • exercising 4-5 times a week, etc

Health Tips

• Plant based diets are an immediate way to have low calorie but high nutrient meals and snacks.
  • Get all your favourite foods, but plant-based from our online store here
• Gluten-free options can leave you feeling less bloated and tired after you eat
  • Try out gluten-free baking for healthier at home treats
  • Swap to ancient grains (such as spelt and rye) for more gut friendly options
• Instead of candy and chocolate, try out energy bars and protein bars for a mid-day boost.
• Instead of soda, try out healthier low-sugar alternatives such as cordials, kombucha, and other flavoured sparkling drinks.
• Supplement with a daily multivitamin for an immediate health kick

With mindful practises and mindful eating, you may end up with resolutions that become part of your lifestyle. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us to speak to qualified nutritionists and experts on these topics. Happy Being Mindful! *2019 Study conducted by YouGov UK.