Glutton's Remorse: When You've Eaten Like There's No Tomorrow

So, one of the problems with attending a Super Bowl party when you don’t really care much about football, is that you tend to spend the entire evening hovering around the buffet table. This would be the definition of mindless eating. rnWhich, of course, is the exact opposite of mindful eating. rnDespite fifteen months of nutritional education and dedication to the Body Ecology Diet, I fell off the healthy eating wagon with a thump. Okay, to be perfectly honest, I kind of jumped. rnIt wasn’t as bad as it could have been, though. I was at my sister’s house, and she is always thoughtful enough to provide healthy options. There were fresh fruits and vegetables, which I enjoyed. rnAnd meatballs in marinara sauce, cheese fondue, baked brie with raspberry compote, brownies and macaroons and Rice Krispie treats. rnI could have resisted beer and chicken wings, but macaroons? Rice Krispie treats?? rnPart of my new and improved, more conscious self-concept requires that I forgive myself this evening of craziness. I am still a good person. I had miso soup for breakfast today, and a big green salad for lunch. rnI’m still committed to healthy eating. I’ll be okay. rnBut I am just a little disappointed. It isn’t the chocolate brownie that has me sad, or even the cheese fondue. It is the way that I simply stopped thinking about what I was putting in my mouth. rnI sort of lost consciousness. Is there a word for blacking out while continuing to shovel food into your mouth? I think I did that. rnI am trying to teach my children about mindful eating. rnWe’ve always said grace before most family meals, but lately we’ve been taking time to truly bless our food – to give thanks for the nourishment provided – and for the way our food makes our bodies healthy and strong. rnWe’ve also been learning about the concept of a mindful bite. rnThe idea is to take one bite of food at a time, then put down your fork or spoon, stop talking (I know, Miss Manners would suggest that you not speak with your mouth full of food anyway), and chew slowly. rnIt turns out that when you do this, you can actually taste your food. With a mindful bite, you might not need to slather your food with ketchup or drown it in salt to get the attention of your taste buds. rnI find that when we actually do this, I experience feeding myself as an act of love for my body. My body enjoys this, if I may be so bold as to speak on its behalf. rnAnd it makes me want to gift myself with healthy food at the next meal. rnUnfortunately, none of this was taking place at the buffet table last night. rnI did give thanks for the Rice Krispie treats, and felt genuine gratitude to my sister for providing a meal that I did not have to cook, but my behavior wasn’t quite all that I would have hoped for. rnNext time, I will do better. rnToday, I will relax and give thanks for all the food we are blessed with each day. And for my sister, who was kind enough to include us in her Super Bowl celebration. rnAnd for my children, who season every meal with joy... even when I serve my infamous blended carrot soup. Guess what's cooking for dinner? What I'm Reading Now... rnEvery family meal is an opportunity to be present and to give thanks. I just picked up What the World Eats, a mesmerizing journey around the globe to see what families eat in the course of one week. rnPhotographed by Peter Menzel and written by Faith D’Aluisio, it will remind you of the blessings inherent in every family meal. And it just might make you a little more mindful of where you spend your food dollars next week. rnRead this one with your children.