Book of the Week: “mindful eating” by Jan Chozen Bays, MD

My family knows I’m a huge reader:  I subscribe to several different ‘zines a month, am always on the lookout for new books and am constantly quizzing friends I know who are avid literature nuts like me on what they love to read. Lately I’ve been in a book rut, though, and this has to happen, of course, just as my birthday comes by and my family gives me, collectively, $100 in Barnes & Noble gift cards. Um, could I be any luckier?

Except I didn’t know what to buy. Perusing the selections at my local B&N, I came across “mindful eating” by Jan Chozen Bays and figured I’d give it a shot. If worse came to worse, I could always go exchange it, right?

Instead I’m thinking I might replace all of my other “diet wisdom” books with this one. It focuses on EXACTLY what the title says: mindful eating. “Minfdulness is deliberately paying attention being fully aware of what is happening both inside yourself-in your body, heart, and mind-and outside yourself, in your environment. Mindfulness is awareness without judgment or criticism.” (“mindful eating”, p. 2) And that last part is SO important. How many of us, even as we’re eating delicious, healthy foods are telling ourselves how many calories we’re packing on, or focusing on some other aspect of how we choose to feel about eating, rather than the simple act of eating itself?

So, as I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear, I am going to try to be more mindful in my eating, and I suggest you do, too. I’m going to focus on the taste, the texture, the raw enjoyment of the act of nourishment. I’m going to consider how my body is utilizing the fuels I’m giving it, and how wonderfully appreciative it is to me for choosing my sources of energy healthfully and carefully. I’m going to taste each bite, savor each taste and enjoy every flavor. Of all the diets I’ve heard of, this one makes the most sense: creating a deliberate awareness of the foods one is consuming, and using that awareness to increase one’s sensitivity to our dietary needs. What do we really want to eat? What are our bodies truly asking for? How can we fuel ourselves best? “mindful eating” addresses these questions–and a whole lot more–and encourages a gentle, caring approach towards one of the most important activities of our lives: our nourishment.

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Comments

One Response to “Book of the Week: “mindful eating” by Jan Chozen Bays, MD”

  1. Nuzulamir on August 29th, 2010 12:14 pm

    Good Snek Healty

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