While driving home from an event last week, my 18 year old son and I shared an order of cajun fries. Max strategically pushes all of my buttons while simultaneously cracking me up. Needless to say, the banter was lively.

Before we knew it, the fries, something we both consider a treat and an indulgence, were gone.

He looked over at me and said, "Weird, I don't even remember eating them."

I hadn't either.

How much of the food you eat do you really enjoy or notice?

Whether you're concerned about weight, health, or simply want to savor, learning to eat a bit more mindfully will go a long way.

THIS WEEK'S TIP
Mindful Eating

Eating Alone
This is great opportunity to enhance your mindfulness practice.  

• Start with a few deep breaths...notice the aroma of your food.

• Before you tuck in, take a moment to observe the colors and textures. Allow your eyes to feast!

• Savor. Direct your thinking to the way the food feels in your mouth and the array of flavors you sense as you chew and swallow each bite.

• When you're finished eating, reflect for a moment on the full sensory experience of your meal.

Eating with Others
As Max and I discovered, it's easy to allow conversation and companionship distract us from experiencing and enjoying our food.  

Conversely, sharing a meal is an excellent way to be truly present with the people we care about.

Try using the five points listed above but by sharing and communicating with your dining partner.

Eating on the Run
This is by far, the most difficult time to practice mindful eating.  In fact, eating on the run is something we should all try to avoid. 

But let's be realistic.  When we're busy, it happens.  

You can lessen the stress and frenzy by choosing any one of the five points listed in Eating Alone above and taking just a few seconds to pause, breathe and experience a little more of the moment you're in.