So I have a confession to make.
I used to be addicted to sugar.
Thisdependency on sugaris partly what led me to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.
I wanted to understand more about food and why people (like me!)
struggle with mastering a healthy diet.
The more I tried to control my cravings, the more out-of-control I felt.
It was like I was using all of my willpower to not eatanythingwith sugar.
It wasn’t until I started to practice mindful eating that I got a grip on this.
Read on for my best advice on how to eat more mindfully.
Courtesy of Jessica Jones
1.
Get good at listening to your body.
Babies and kids are great at listening to their bodies.
They generally eat when theyre hungry, and stop when theyre full.
Well eat a slice of cake justbecauseits in the work lounge.
We finish whats on our plate because thats the serving that was given to us.
Or just have a small portion.
And see to it to eat using the hunger scale.
Thehunger scaleis a way of rating hunger and fullness.
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Dont classify foods as good and bad.
When we classify foods as good and bad we set ourselves up for failure.
Because when we eat a bad food we feel guilty.
And feeling guilty is not fun.
I like to classify foods as healthy and not-so-healthy.
Do I recommend that you go eating a bag of candy every day?
But if you have a few every once in awhile for the mere pleasure of it, thats okay.
Remember that no food is off limits.
This is what changed my life and improved my relationship with food.
It was the same exact cycle, for years.
When I finally told myself, I can eat a slice of cakewhenever and wherever I wantI felt free.
The food didnt have control over me anymore.
It wasnt calling me from across the room at the party.
If I wanted it I could eat it.
The only caveat is that I have to actually listen to what my body has to say.
If I keep it to roughly a half-cup serving, I feel totally fine.
Of course this concept doesnt include any particular intolerances or eating philosophies you may have that create certain restrictions.
Sissi Chen / EyeEm, Getty
5.
A lot of my patients tell me that they eat due to feeling anxious, sad, or depressed.
And I get it.
They dont call it comfort food for nothing.
But the key is to actually honor your feelings.
If you are feeling sad, feel sad.
This will maybe help you get to the root ofwhythat is.
Masking those feelings with food will only exacerbate them in the long run.
Related:16 Tips for Losing Weight and Keeping It Off From Registered Dietitians
6.
Try not to gettoostressed over food.
My motto is to not take anything in life too seriously.
When we stress too much about what we eat, it takes the joy out of eating.
Stressing also makes mealtime feel like a chore, which can suck.
And all that stress raises a hormone in our body called cortisol.
And finally, be kind to yourself.
I know people say that you are what you eat, but try not to take this too literally.
And you are not a bad person because you only made it to the gym once.
Oftentimes we are our own worst critic and this needs to stop.
Be nice to yourself.
Enjoy the cookie, for goodness' sake.
(Or maybe half of it!)
Justlistento what your body is trying to tell you along the way.
To learn more about scheduling a nutrition counseling session with Jessica, clickhere.
For more tips and tricks for nutritious living, check outFood Heaven Made Easy.
And stay in touch with Jessica viaInstagram,Twitter,YouTube, andFacebook.
Photo Credit: Hero Images/Getty
