In our fast and frenetic lives today, many people eat on the go unmindful of what they are eating. This can lead to many health complications.
“You should pay attention to what and how you eat,” says Safeek Ali, dietician and nutritionist, Mediclinic Welcare Hospital, Dubai.
“Today, one day blurs into the other as we rush through life skipping meals, eating the wrong foods and eating more than you need,” he says.
‘Mindful eating’ is important as it means knowing when you are hungry and how you eat your food. “Sometimes, when you are thirsty, you mistakenly tend to pick up a big meal thinking you are hungry,” says Ali.
You should also be able to identify the triggers that make you want to eat. Many triggers are emotional or psychological, and have nothing to do with being hungry. “Be aware if you are reaching for food for comfort,” he says, as this type of eating could be because you are stressed or have emotional conflicts in your life.
Proper eating, according to him, means that you also eat from all the five important food groups: carbohydrates, proteins, fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
The physical act of eating also needs to be considered when it comes to mindful eating. Standing and gobbling up food, driving and biting into a sandwich while steering through traffic, eating your way through giant buckets of popcorn at the movies, munching on chips reclining on the couch while watching TV... these are all typically unhealthy habits. He feels it is better to avoid buffets as one pays to eat the wrong foods at these tables.
Portion size is another important consideration in achieving mindful eating. If you eat more than you need, the food turns harmful, says Ali. “If you have a sedentary job, 1,800 calories a day is all you need,” he says. “If you have a desk job, you should concentrate on eating more fibre, rather than carbohydrates and protein.”
Mindful eating also means enjoying your food with all your senses. “One should smell, taste and feel the texture of the food (on your tongue)’, he says. Food is a sensorial pleasure, it needs to be treated with respect, is his firm belief.
