Mindful eating: how paying attention to what you eat can help with weight loss, digestive problems and obesity
- Because of our stressful lifestyles, it’s important to savour your food and enjoy its taste, texture and aroma every time you sit down to eat
- The mindful eater should honour their meals, engage all six senses, serve modest portions and stick to a plant-based diet
Oskar Valles thought he was in tune with his eating habits. Then in 2019 he attended a “mindful eating” workshop and left with a greater understanding of what it means to “eat with intention while paying attention”.
Like many people, Valles used to rush through his meals so he could get on with other tasks. He would at times turn to food when stressed, and would eat just because it was time to eat and not because he was hungry.
Since attending the workshop, run by Hong Kong’s Mindful Movement, the 48-year-old entrepreneur has enjoyed a better relationship with food.
“I don’t just focus on what I eat but how I eat it,” says Valles, who was born in Spain and has lived in Hong Kong for 10 years. “I do a simple, purposeful breathing exercise before a meal, take my time chewing my food before swallowing it, focusing on its healing and nourishing properties, and find myself choosing more wholesome foods, such as simply cooked vegetables and grains instead of processed ones from the supermarket.
“I also have a deeper appreciation for my food, savouring its taste, texture and aroma every time I sit down to eat and expressing gratitude for how it got onto my plate.”
