Meditation & mindfulness

Mindful Eating: A Five-Senses Practice

Turn one familiar bite into a few minutes of mindfulness by slowing down and giving full attention to your senses.

01 / 08

What to understand

Mindful eating is not a diet or a way to force yourself to eat less. It is a practice of bringing attention to the experience already happening: appearance, color, aroma, texture, taste, and sensations in the body.

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02 / 08

What to understand

When you notice that you are eating automatically or thinking about something else, simply return to the bite in front of you without judging yourself.

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03 / 08

How to practice

Choose a piece of fruit, a nut, or another small familiar food and set aside about five screen-free minutes. Before eating, study its color and shape, feel its surface, and notice its aroma.

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04 / 08

How to practice

Place it in your mouth and pause briefly before chewing to notice the first sensations. Then chew slowly, following changes in flavor and texture. Notice swallowing and the sensations that remain afterward.

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05 / 08

How to practice

Finish with one natural breath before deciding whether to take another bite.

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06 / 08

Three steps to begin

  1. Choose a short amount of time, such as five minutes.
  2. Slow down when needed and notice what is happening.
  3. Close with a bell or one intentional breath.
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07 / 08

A helpful reminder

You do not need to turn every meal into a long meditation. A few intentional bites can be enough to practise returning to the present.

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08 / 08

A helpful reminder

If close attention to food feels distressing or connects with difficulties around eating, choose another mindfulness practice that feels safer and seek appropriate professional support when needed.

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There is more in the article

Read the full article for common questions and how to practice with Mokugyo.

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