How to Stay Fit and Stay Healthy

11 Ways To Increase Your Food Appreciation

It's referred to as mindful eating by some. While "getting the greatest pleasure possible" is a good expression, I prefer to think of it as "getting the most pleasure possible" from what I'm consuming. That makes me feel like I'm receiving a true threat, and taking steps to extract as much pleasure as possible motivates me more than making rules for myself about what I can and can't do while eating.

Staying present while eating, also known as mindful eating, is the eating habit that I need to focus on the most, especially when I'm exceptionally busy, anxious, excited, or around others.

These methods are both easy and nuanced. They always remind me to concentrate on my food and enjoy it to the fullest extent possible.

 Here are 11 tips to help you appreciate your meal more...

• 1. Take a bite

Chewing food 20 times or more is a proven strategy to increase pleasure. This is severely slowing me down. It reminds me not to speed through eating if I'm in a hurry because I'll miss out on the pleasure.

This is a behavior I have to think about and make a game out of because I'm normally a human vacuum that inhales food. Chewing, on the other hand, allows me to recognize the food's advantages. I'm aware of the ingredients. The texture and temperature are both noticeable to me. All of this contributes to me feeling whole and fulfilled, whether I'm enjoying a special treat or having the same breakfast for the past seven days.

If you're eating with others, chewing also encourages you to slow down so you don't complete your meal first. That way, you won't be tempted to eat more just because everyone else is.

• 2. Change hands.

Making things more difficult is an excellent method to make yourself focus on what you're doing. For example, forcing yourself to eat with your non-dominant hand is a straightforward approach to accomplish this. You can begin by preparing smaller meals. It's also an excellent idea to employ when you're dining with people and want to stay focused on your meal so you don't eat mindlessly just because the other person is.

• 3. Use chopsticks to eat.

This, like switching hands, makes things a little more difficult. Plus, there's just so much you can eat in one mouthful.

When I use chopsticks, I concentrate more on separating bits. In a stir fry, for example, I'll pick off the peppers first, then the onions, then the mushrooms, and so on. This allows me to appreciate each section.

When eating a sandwich with chopsticks, things get a little tough.

I read about a software business that requested a group of employees to eat entirely with chopsticks for a week as a mindfulness practice. Even though weight loss was not the goal, everyone in the company lost weight, and numerous people said the project changed their lives.

• 4. Place your fork on the table between bites.

Putting your fork down between pieces of food is a great way to supplement your chewing routine. Setting your fork down forces you to concentrate on chewing your food instead of mindlessly picking at your plate for your next bite.

It also encourages you to take your time and enjoy the flavor of your food rather than cramming it down your throat as quickly as possible.

• 5. Close your eyes for a moment.

Close your eyes as you chew, whether it's for a few bites or the entire meal. You may now concentrate entirely on the flavors, the ingredients, and how they combine, as well as the texture as it changes. Closing your eyes provides you control over your experience in a world full of distractions.

• 6. Make a list of all the ingredients.

It can be enjoyable to identify each flavor and what you're eating as if you were a chef or a professional taste tester. Is it possible to taste the strawberries in strawberry ice cream? What about the cream or milk? Can you tell what ingredients are in the marinade if it's a marinated steak? Is it sour, spicy, or salty?

• 7. Arrange your meal on a dish.

When I'm alone, I frequently eat from the container or bag. It doesn't seem essential to get plates out. Putting food on a plate rather than eating from a bag, on the other hand, allows me to be more aware of what I'm eating and feel more pleased with a smaller amount. That's one thing if I complete my dish. However, if I complete the entire container, I will have consumed twice as much food.

• 8. Take a seat.

I frequently stand up when eating, like I do while eating from a container because I'm in a hurry or sitting seems unnecessary. What is so essential in my life that I don't have time to stop and nourish myself for 15 minutes? Sitting down instructs our minds to concentrate on the task at hand rather than worrying about moving on to the next.

• 9. Make a huge fuss over it.

Why not enjoy the fact that you're sitting down and eating on a plate, giving yourself the food you desire the most? You could die tomorrow and not have had the chance to get the most enjoyment out of your life! But seriously, when you eat, you're providing your body the energy it needs to stay alive. You would eventually lose energy and perish if you didn't eat. Taking care of your body is what allows you to be alive and active in your life... and what a delightful way to do so.

Get the fine china out of the cupboard. Obtain the opulent fork. Create the tablescape. To begin, light a candle. This is especially true if you're indulging in something you've been anticipating.

• 10. Quiet down.

Turn off the television, internet, and other sources of distraction so you can dine quietly. It helps to eliminate distractions in the same way that closing your eyes does. You'll be able to hear your inner voice more clearly, and you'll be able to direct it to focus on the flavors in your mouth.

• 11. Give thanks.

Consider the time and effort it takes to get the meal to you. It wasn't just the sun and rain that nourished the vegetables, fruits, cereals, and animals; it was also the labor that went into harvesting, processing, packaging, shipping, delivering, stocking, and offering or serving your food. It's a significant event. Getting that much food to people all across the world daily is no easy task.

You are the beneficiary of all of that labor. It's so you can eat what you want when you want. Consider giving appreciation for how lucky you are to have such easy access to food and the financial means to buy it.