Conscious Eating - A Guide

I’d like to introduce, right from the beginning, the most powerful - arguably the only - tool we need.

The breath. 

And I’d like to add a little flavour to my contemplation, as I’m eating a Tempeh Poke Bowl in Bali. 

Breath is the center of the art of conscious eating. We can tend to inhale our food and not leave any breath for the pause in between delicious bites. 

And this is true for many things in life - work, sex, food, talking, taking a walk, arguing with a loved one.

We simply forget to take deep breaths that offer the spaciousness of pause, perspective and enjoyment. 

Guided conscious eating. 

Before you take the first bite,

Look at your plate or bowl. Take in the colours, the juices, the textures, the movements. 

Breathe in the smells, the poetry, of your food. 

Thank your delicious food. 

As you take your first bite, close your eyes for a moment and experience your food.

Let the tastes, textures, smells, temperature play with your tongue and mouth.

Take long, purposeful, present bites. 

Let the ingredients mix, evolve, in your mouth, swallowing consciously and gently.

Feel the nourishment descend in your tummy.

As I take a bite, 

A perfectly chewy, caramelised tempeh swirls around the reddish forest rice

Enters a playful, slippery mango

A fresh lemony slice of avocado and a trio of round earthy edamame

All bathing in a flavourful creamy peanut sauce, dancing around my tongue

If this sounds sensual to you, it’s meant to be. Eating can be an incredibly sensual art. 

Honour and revel in what you nourish yourself with, and you will be a vibrant human.

Tip: slow down the pace a little bit further than you want to and consciously deepen and slow down your breath and bites. Experience the depth and width of sensations offered to you. Try this contemplation with work, sex, talking, taking a walk, arguing with a loved one and notice the wide changes in your experience and relationships. 

Love,

Julie