How to Master Mindful Eating

As we head toward fall, the mornings are becoming a bit more crisp, slowly but surely. Kids are heading back to school next week; the responsibilities of routines are coming back into focus. Yet summer doesn't leave without a fight, without pushing out the last of tomatoes and peaches for our final consideration, just as winter squashes want our attention. 

With every seasonal change, I do a reassessment of my diet—what's working, what could use improvement. The vegetables and foods in fall and winter require a little more work; the root veggies that come in full force are more grounding, inviting some mindfulness as we prepare meals. I've been trying to get Miles, who does many things quickly, to take at least 10-15 bites before he takes another. This doesn't like nearly enough especially if you consider tenets of Ayurveda, but if you're six years old, there's always something more interesting going on after the meal. Sometimes, that means dessert. And that's usually okay. 

I find when I start to really become more mindful of what I am eating, the experience becomes much more enjoyable. And I sometimes make different choices about what I'm eating, too. I like the way this infographic puts it all together.