Mindful Eating Monday: Creating Mindful Routines
Look, you’re busy. When it comes to what you eat, you want to spend less time thinking about it—not more.
It’s a worthwhile investment to take the time to think about what you’re eating and how it makes you feel. But being more mindful about your meals doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment every day. Here are some ways you can reap all the benefits of intentional eating without the time commitment:
Create a routine. Come up with one week’s worth of simple, healthy meals that you enjoy eating. You might consider a caprese salad or a simple veggie stir-fry—the kinds of meals you can whip up quickly even if you’re making it from scratch, that feel healthy and nourishing, and that you feel excited to eat. If you can expend the mental energy to come up with a week’s worth of mindful meals, you can create a routine that will last you all season.
Meal plan. Putting aside a half hour each week to take stock of what’s in your fridge and what’s on your calendar can pay dividends in time and money. It can save you from taking multiple trips to the store or ordering takeout at the last minute. Bonus points if you meal prep, so that you have healthy meals on hand even if you’re in a hurry.
Shop smarter, not harder. The switch from junk food to nuts and fruits and other healthy snacks is one that happens long before you get the snack attack—it’s a switch you make in the store. Don’t buy snacks you find irresistible or that don’t feel nourishing. Exercise will power when you shop, so that you only have healthy snacks on hand. Then, even if you reach mindlessly for an afternoon snack, you know whatever you reach for is something you’ve already put intentionality into choosing.
We still recommend taking the time to cook things from scratch and sitting down at the table to enjoy your meals whenever possible. But you can still practice intentional eating if you’re frequently on the go or you’re having a busy week! A little planning ahead can save you time and effort down the line, so you can reap the benefits of mindful eating efficiently.
As a bonus, creating a mindful meal plan also allows you to think about the packaging your food comes with. Fruits and veggies often come in packaging than chips and cookies, and meal-prepped frozen meals don’t come wrapped in plastic like store-bought pre-packaged ones do. Mindfulness can help you not only to think about the health of your food choices, but their impact on the planet as well! Remember to put all your food scraps in your orange KC Can Compost bucket!