Savouring and Mindful Eating by Kelly Shadbolt

In response to COVID-19 the ‘Live Up’ COVID COMMUNITY was set up to support our communities with practical wellbeing resources that can be used for these extraordinary circumstances of social distancing, community lockdown and quarantine. This article is from Kelly Shadbolt and is based around the concepts of ‘Savouring’ and ‘Taking Notice’ one of the 5 Ways of Wellbeing and the concept of Savouring. Wellbeing is improved by taking the time to notice the little things and thoroughly, thoughtfully enjoy them.

Savour

Mindful Eating – Particularly good with Easter at the moment and savoring the chocolate. If you are not into chocolate, use any food that you like, you will enjoy working through this mindful script as you eat it. The focus is about living in the moment and enjoying and noticing how your body and mind reacts to what you are eating. You will notice that by eating mindfully and being connected with what you are eating, it will be the most satisfying piece of food you have ever eaten.

This can be built on and transferred to standing in the shower and being aware of the drips of water landing on your head for example. Practicing mindfulness for just 5 minutes a day can improve your mental health and help you live in the moment and decrease your stress.

Here is a link to a mindfulness exercise using raisins (but can be replaced with any food) it is from the Greater Good Science Centre Website and is called Raisin Mediation.

Here is a script about Mindful Eating it is from the VHA / Office of Patient Centered Care & Cultural Transformation and its original source is cited on the PDF

References:

Click this link that takes you to the Positive Psychology and it will fill you in on the science and research behind Mindful Eating. https://positivepsychology.com/mindful-eating-exercises/