Resources

Listening

Is it hunger or something else? Our need for calories (food) decreases as we age, yet our intake increases. Why? A few quick reasons: Stresses, thirst, emotions, lack of sleep/tired, advertising. It seems so simple to state, eat only what your body needs, yet our culture encourages us to eat large portions, diet, and eat healthy. Usually at an early age we loose the ability to discern when we are truly hungry. Diets teach us to crave the foods that are labeled “bad". Large portions teach us to override our internal comfort cues. Rigidly eating well "good" may cause stress when eating out, or feeling deprived.

First – get rid of the good/bad labels. Use eat all the time foods, and eat sometime foods. Ahh, did you feel your body relax?

Second – Assess your hunger level before you prepare/eat a meal or snack. Breathe, breathe, breathe and ask yourself how hungry am I? Drink a glass of water. Do you eat because it’s time to eat or because you are hungry?

Third – Chew, chew, chew (notice the textures and flavors) and wait 15-20 minutes before taking a second helping. Breathe, breathe, breathe and ask yourself how do I feel? Is your stomach comfortable? Fullness is not the goal.

Feed your body food when it needs fuel. Take a walk when you need activity. Breathe, meditate, pray, and use guided imagery when you need silence. Listening to your body, discovering what your mind, body and spirit needs in eaC.M.ment are the key to a good relationship with food and a healthy life.