After you’ve tried the Mindful Eating practice, take a few minutes to reflect on your experience, and answer the following questions.
What was it like to eat mindfully?
How was it different from how you usually eat?
What did you notice about the taste?
What did you notice about the process of chewing?
How did your mind feel when you put your full attention on chewing and tasting?
Did anything about the practice surprise you? Were you surprised by how tasty one bite can be? Were you surprised that a food you thought you loved didn’t actually taste that great?
Many teens find this practice surprisingly flavorful and relaxing. They’re amazed that simply slowing down and tasting their food can calm their bodies and minds. Other teens find this practice difficult and annoying. They find that they dislike the taste or the texture of the food. They think the practice is too slow and feel impatient. Whether you found the practice peaceful or annoying, delicious or disgusting, as long as you gave your kind and curious attention to your experience, you practiced mindfulness. Again, being mindful doesn’t mean being blissed out; it means being fully aware of your experience in the moment.
I encourage you to practice mindfulness for a few minutes every day. Mindfulness is a learnable skill, like shooting free throws or rehearsing a piece of music. Usually when we are first learning something new, we feel a bit awkward and unsure. Over time, with practice, we become more skillful; the basics feel more solid and reliable. And when we have developed a certain level of mastery, we can be creative and begin to improvise in new situations. It is the same with mindfulness. At first the practice may feel unusual and clumsy. But most teens find that with just a few minutes of daily practice, their mindfulness muscles get stronger and more flexible, and they find that using mindfulness makes their everyday lives less stressful and more enjoyable. But don’t take my word for it. Do your best to practice every day, and see what happens for you.
Over the next week or so, commit to practicing mindfulness and self-care:
Mindfulness is ~
Simple. Just this moment. Here. Now.