When I opened this week’s card and saw ‘The Week of Mindful Eating’ as the title, I couldn’t wait to get stuck in. There’s nothing more I love than food. The idea this week was that instead of just shovelling my food down (I mean, I don’t really see what’s wrong with that, it shows you’re enjoying it, right?), I was to really think about what I was eating. The task was to consider why I’m eating, what emotions and needs I felt before, during and after food, and think about where it came from. How did it come together? What methods were used to make the food?
Honestly, this one kinda felt like another ‘miss’. When I’m hungry, I want to eat. I don’t want to sit and think ‘why am I hungry?’ or ‘how do I feel right now?’. I already know how I feel, hungry. I already know why I’m hungry, because I haven’t eaten. I just can’t really be bothered to analyse every last thing, and food, to me, is one of life’s pleasures – I want to keep it that way.
That being said, I do think I already have quite a good relationship with food. Whilst the term ‘mindful eating’ annoys me a bit, I think that I actually do eat quite mindfully. I really enjoy cooking and eating, and I often make sure to taste the flavours and textures of whatever it is I’m eating. I’m also very mindful of how lucky I am to be able to eat regularly, as know many in the world aren’t as fortunate as myself in that regard. I think it’s important not to waste food, and maximise ingredients as much as possible. Whether that’s to cook leftover vegetables into a broth, or to use overly-ripe bananas to make a banana cake. Whatever it is, it’s important to appreciate it and not waste it.
So I have to admit, whilst I didn’t really do the task as it is written this week, I did continue to do what I always do and that’s enjoy what I’m eating and take time to be grateful for the fact that I am doing so.
See you next week!
Reflect and Introspect 