We've all done it at one time or another.  Actually, if we want to be completely honest, some of us do it way too much. 

We open a bag of our favorite snacks thinking we'll just have a few only to turn around and discover we're scraping the crumbs off the bottom of the bag  with a moistened finger. We're watching a movie and your friend or partner asks you to pass the popcorn.  You would love to, but you've just  devoured the entire XXX super bombastic large size bucket at the speed of light. You've "tasted" the food while you're cooking so much that you realize you've become so full, you can't actually eat the meal you've made.

I'm talking about mindless eating.  Isn't it amazing how much we can consume when we're not paying attention? 

I know I've found myself standing over the sink and downing a fast lunch or dinner.  A few bites of whatever I can grab fast. because when getting ready for an important appointment, I never included time to sit and eat (no less enjoy) a meal. It all goes back to priorities and self care.  Hey wait, I know you have kids to drive, errands to run and...and...AND...
You are important and the way you treat yourself has to become more that downing a few cold bites of left over Chinese takeout. .  Feeling guilty?  too bad. Get over it, and yes I know I've said this many times before. Once again I am reminding all of you (ok, and myself) that I cannot be of any benefit to anyone else when I neglect myself.

To me, nourishing my body, which in turn nourishes my soul is of the utmost importance. The fine art of sharing a meal and conversation needs to make a major comeback.  I saw a cartoon of a couple on Facebook stating that they should invite friends over. The next frame showed them all in the living room hiding their faces behind their phone.

I don't have too much of an opportunity to have people over, but when I do I'd like to think they'd prefer my dazzling company over clicking "like" the entire time they're with me.
I actually had two friends over for dinner this past week. to enjoy a meal.  Two of us had a great conversation.  The other one spent most of the time looking up people on her phone.  That person will not be invited over again anytime soon.

Some of us have a tendency to do the same thing.   We make dinner and spend the entire time scrolling.  My policy now is to make more of an effort to be mindful and be present in the moment.  This is no easy feat for me as I have a mind that races in all directions every minute of everyday.  It's difficult for some people to carry on a conversation with me.  Don't they know they need to keep up with my scattered thinking that has the ability to cover several topics simultaneously???  Sorry family. ( I've heard many times from them that I think I'm telling them something, but I forget to orally express it.  I will tell you, however, that some of them have tried to use this to their advantage.  They'll swear up and down that I never had a certain conversation with them. After awhile  I  found myself taking "minutes" from these meetings of the mind.  I now just say "Let's go to the notes, shall we???) If there are no notes, I'm screwed.

So here are my tips for mindful eating:

Make it just as important as anything else you do during the day.

Get that phone in another room where you can't hear it.

Sit down. With a plate and a fork. What the heck, go all out and get a napkin. 

Pause before you begin to eat.  Take a couple of deep breaths and center yourself.

Be present in the moment.  When you start thinking of everything else you have yet to do, bring yourself back to the present. 

Actually taste and enjoy what you're eating guilt free.

Slow down and  CHEW.

Finding the zen in the simple act of enjoying a meal will do so much more for you than you've ever imagined. It just doesn't put food in your stomach, but it energizes and refreshes your mind.  
Taking these breaks for yourself will help you accomplish so much during the course of your day. Most of all, it will remind you how important you are.