How Mindful Eating Fosters Accountability
Last week we talked about eating mindfully: Choosing what to eat, tuning in to what your body needs and how you feel, and stopping before you hit a point of discomfort from overeating.
Eating mindfully reminds you of your body's hunger and fullness cues, which are often drowned out with messages to "clear your plate" or simply by not paying attention during meals, and it also makes you more accountable for your choices.
When you're consciously deciding what to eat and how much, you're making a judgment call. You have the autonomy to choose what you want and what best supports your body and your health goals.
Taking the time to stop and assess what foods you want or need to eat means taking ownership of your nutrition rather than letting cravings or a time crunch make the decision for you.
Tuning in to how your body responds to the foods you're eating puts you in control of your intake. You learn what "enough" feels like for you. You can choose more nutritious foods and choose to stop eating before you overdo it – or you can choose an extra helping of your favorite dish, even if takes you past full.
Eating mindfully doesn't mean always choosing the healthiest option or never overeating. It just means listening to your body's cues and being empowered to make the right decisions for you.
I was out of town this weekend, and I had the opportunity to enjoy an indulgent meal at an iconic restaurant. Two appetizers, a cocktail, a salad, Cuban bread, and an entree – I knew I didn't need all of it and that it wasn't going to be the most nutritious meal. But I also knew I probably wouldn't ever be back at this restaurant, and I wanted to try it all!
Did I feel uncomfortably full the rest of the night? Yes, and it was a consequence I'd been willing to risk.
Was I desperate for plain protein and vegetables at the next few meals? Also yes.
It's ok if you sometimes make meal choices that you know won't help you reach your goals, as long as you own them.
Maybe it didn't support the nutritional habits you're working towards, but it supported a different goal, like minimizing stress from trying to find something the kids would eat, or indulging in a meal that exposes you to new cuisines or transports you back to your childhood. Those choices are ok. The point is that you're choosing them; you're not accidentally finding yourself at the bottom of a gallon of ice cream with a stomachache and no recollection of how you got there.
Eat mindfully. Choose foods that support your physical goals and ones that feed your spirit as well. But choose consciously, and take accountability for the choices that you make.
Eating mindfully is one of the basic skills my nutrition coaching clients learn. If you want strategies to help with mindful eating and its counterpart stress eating, or if you need accountability with your food intake, online nutrition coaching is for you!
I'd love to help you reach your goals. Schedule a free consult here and let's chat!
