5 Minute Mindful Eating Experience

I love eating and the process of cooking and preparing a beautiful plate of food. I practice eating one mindful meal a day, typically at breakfast or lunch time. When I am alone with my food I approach my meal with gratitude and patience. I smell it deeply, I appreciate the colors, I taste it and go “OOooMMmm”.

This past week has been different. I have tested positive for COVID and have lost my smell/taste for a few days. I am healthy otherwise so no need to worry :)

For a person like myself who looks forward to the food experience that each meal brings, losing two of my senses was profound. It’s very weird to eat and not experience the life that is embedded within each bite.

My years of practicing intuitive eating really came in full swing this week! At first I kept trying to eat my normal meals, which contained a big portion of raw veggies. However, spinach, a green I loved now tasted slimy and unappetizing. Likewise, cucumbers and hummus tasted like a goopy lump, very unappetizing.

So I tuned into my body. I listened for what it really wanted right now. It told me warm, spicy, salty, sweet and so I listened. Even though I could not always taste my food I still felt satisfied and nourished. I have eaten almost all cooked foods like rice, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, soup, curry, all cooked veggies, stir-frys, and chickpea pasta.

There is a second piece to my body’s desire for cooked foods. It is a change in the seasons and we are moving away from summer (raw foods) and into fall (cooked foods). The holistic practice of Ayurveda teaches on this idea of changing diet based on seasons and body type. I am predominantly Vata dosha, which needs more grounding cooked foods.

I knew that I needed to switch my diet, but losing my senses really pushed me to listen and take action. I am thankful for my intuitive eating practice, my awareness of my body, and my willingness to change. Even though I have been eating more carbs and less protein I feel good and confident in my body image. We are all so uniquely made what works for one person doesn't work for all. I encourage you to tune in and listen to what your body is truly asking for!

I have inserted a short Mindful Eating Experience below for you to practice at a meal this week.

All of the answers lie within you, sometimes it just takes stopping, opening up to the moment, and listening to your heart. The more you practice non-judgemental present moment self-awareness the stronger your mindful muscles will become.

Mindfulness and Unlocking Your Intuition are two of the pillars that make up my 6-month coaching program. If you are serious about tapping into your intuitive wisdom I would love to set up a call with you this week! Click here to book your free session!

"Live Dirty, Eat Clean & Green",

Lizzie Shutt

@livewliz