It wasn’t until high school that this started to change. Dad and I had our favorite show and we could eat dinner while watching! And then tv dinners were something that started making it into our freezer. The family was busier, the youngest was the only kid left at home and the rules relaxed. And as much as I cherish those memories of bonding with dad or finally being able to eat the fun foods my friends did, a small part of me wishes that we had kept those good habits of eating while being present.
Over the years, studies have been done and research shows that when we eat while we are distracted, our metabolism slows down, indigestion increases, we miss the cues from our body and overeat. We miss out on the experience and enjoyment of food when we are distracted.
Common distractions include watching television, reading, being on our phones, scrolling social media, driving, working, being on the computer as well as eating on a time crunch. All of these distractions take us away from the enjoyment of our meal and cause us to forget what we’ve eaten and how much.
It’s so much better for ourselves to truly be present when we eat. It helps us determine if we are truly hungry or if we are eating our emotions. It helps us hear our bodies cue that we are full and satiated. It helps us connect with how our food tastes, smells, looks and feels. And it helps us connect with friends and family when we share in the experience.
While doing research on the topic, one of the most convicting pieces I found was from a Dr. Sophie Mort, Ph.D, a clinical psychologist who says, “that many people eat while watching TV because our culture values productivity, making it rare for us to do one thing at a time.” Why just eat when you can also squeeze in your only time to catch up on The Chosen? Our need to be productive is causing health problems down the road, affecting our eating, our sleep and adding to our stress.
Some tips I came across that might help you be more present during meals include things like, setting the table, slowing down to at least 20 minutes (the amount of time it takes your brain to notify you that you are full), eating without distractions, using your non dominant hand to eat and using chopsticks if you are unfamiliar with them.
Eating during your favorite show is not a bad thing, in fact, if that’s what you need to decompress, do it. Set some rules for yourself so it’s not completely mindless eating, but enjoy your time and your meal. Eating and tv watching are ways to release dopamine into your system, so it makes sense that the two go together nicely. One rule would be, don’t do it everyday. Another would be to eat at the table and portion your plate before turning on the tube. But remember, everyone is different and it’s important to ask yourself what your goal is before getting started.
Whether you go cold turkey or slowly change your habits, notice how you feel and find what works for you.
Go in grace and God bless,
Colleen
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
