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Eat Meals Consciously

Tuning in can help you know when you are full

By

Staying Sharp

Updated April 06, 2023

Updated April 06, 2023

A family eating a meal together in a home

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Quick Win

Eating in a calm and mindful state can help improve your digestion and ward off your brain’s stress signals.

Try This Today

Listen to your body. Instead of eating out of boredom, check in with yourself to see if you are truly hungry before reaching for a snack.
Eliminate distractions. Turn off the TV, step away from your desk and put down the phone. Allow your body to focus solely on eating.
Bring your awareness to the meal. Smell your food. Take a bite and tune into the flavors. Is it savory? Sweet? Salty? Focus on the chewing, feeling the texture.

Why

Many of us plop down in front of the television or scroll through social media while eating. But tuning into your meals can help you maintain a healthy weight. As a 2019 paper in Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal explains, eating in a calm and mindful state can help your body prioritize digestion and ward off your brain’s stress signals.

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