We've often referred to the wisdom of our bodies and how incredible it is. The intelligence that's programmed into our bodies is amazing, how it keeps trillions of cells communicating and working in harmony with each other, and how it signals us about what it needs, how much and when.
From things as simple as, "It's cold, let's put on a jacket" to "I'm hungry, let's get some food," we're always getting signals from our inner wisdom to guide us to stay healthy and safe.
One area that we often don't listen to though is when to stop eating. We aren't so sensitive to (or simply ignore) our "I've had enough to eat" signal.
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How often do we check in with our thinking mind as opposed to our bodies' wisdom for when to stop eating? How often do we just keep eating until the plate is empty? We've taken on so many rules about when to eat, what to eat, how much to eat, all of which don't listen for the signals from our body, but our ideas in our mind.
When we get quiet while we're eating, we hear the impulses from our bodies that tell us when we're full. And we've been surprised how good we feel through the day when we eat less by listening to these impulses to stop eating because we've had enough.
Here's the Eating With Presence exercise we share with our clients (and have been doing again ourselves lately).
- Put all of your awareness in your mouth.
- Chew each bite of food until it is like a liquid in your mouth.
- Notice the tastes and textures.
- Be aware of what the food looks like and smells like.
- Fully immerse yourself in the experience.
- Feel love for every bite and appreciation for how our bodies use it.
- Particularly notice the signals from your body: Is there a feeling of ease and relaxation or does it feel like it's a bit difficult to digest? Do you feel energized or like closing your eyes for a minute after eating?
- Then check in 30-60 minutes after you eat and notice how your body feels. Is there a lightness and ease in digesting the meal or does it feel like it's having to work at digesting?
By eating with presence, we begin to create a new, refreshed relationship with the food based on the benefit these foods bring to our bodies and our health. Our bodies are always keeping track of the benefit or taxing nature of what we eat, but that doesn't help us in our food choices unless we bring it to our conscious awareness.
And this practice of getting present when we eat can impact other areas of our lives. The more we get present with everything we do, relating to friends and family, working at our jobs, exercising and loving, the more we begin to incorporate the power of now, that people like Eckhart Tolle speak about, into our lives.
The recipe this week is Just Banana Muffins, including a chocolate version for the chocolate lovers.
To your Amazing Health,
Connie and Bill
Just Banana Muffins from Chef AJ
- 4 very ripe bananas
- ¾ cup unsweetened applesauce or 1 apple
- 2 tablespoons filtered water
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
- 1 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla powder
- ½ tablespoon aluminum-free baking powder
- ½ teaspoon sodium-free baking soda
- ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
For Chocolate version:
- ½ cup raw cacao powder
- 8 medium dates
- ¾ cup filtered water
Preheat oven to 350º.
Line a muffin pan with 12 cupcake liners or use a silicone muffin tin.
In a food processor add bananas, applesauce (or apple), dates (if making chocolate version) and water, and blend into a smooth purée.
Now add the oats, ground flax, cinnamon, vanilla, baking powder and baking soda and pulse until just combined. Do not over mix.
Add apple cider vinegar (to activate the baking soda) and pulse again to mix well.
Pour into muffin tin, filling about 2/3 full and bake for 25-30 minutes until tops are golden brown and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow to cool and pop out.
Optional: stir in 2 cups of blueberries (fresh or frozen) or other berry you would enjoy and bake for 30-35 minutes.