Spring has sprung in our neck of the woods and, as a result, the Tornado & I have been picnicking.
Yesterday, while watching her eat, I was reminded of all she’s taught me these past five years.
Sure some of my sentimentalnessment (technical term) is in part due to the fact we had her kindergarten roundup yesterday (!), but you’ll have that.
Please to enjoy Five Mindful Eating Tips as furnished unknowingly by the Almost-In-Kindergarten Tornado.
Really take time to assess your hunger. REALLY.
Lately, when I ask her if she’s hungry there’s a l-o-n-gass lag before she responds.
And I wont lie to you. Many, many times the aforementioned lag annoys me.
I find myself longing to say: “Make up your mind!” or the ever notsonice “It’s not that hard of a question! Are you hungry?!”
As I recently watched her decide if she wanted a snack or not, it occurred to me she seemed to have a check list she went through in her head.
She really is DECIDING if she’s tired, bored, hungry, whatevs *before* she answers my question. As it’s only *then* that she knows her answer.
Duly noted.
I could learn a few things from her slowslow response.
Be selective.
As a mom it’s my job to encourage her to try new foods. I offer & encourage and, should she not like a food at first encounter, I always proffer it at least one more time.
That said, Ive noticed she doesnt eat what she doesnt like.
While this used to annoy me greatly, Im choosing to view it in a different light.
When viewed through the lens of mindful eating her refusal is her simply being selective.
I can think of many times Ive eaten what I knew I didnt adore (hello lemon cake!!) & not only did I not enjoy it—I ended up eating what I did like (greetings brownies!!) anyway.
In addition.
Being selective mightcould be a good thing.
EMBRACE your food…literally.
Ahh age five.
It’s not enough to simply eat and be done with it. She touches, smells, mashes, tastes, envelopes every morsel which goes into her pizza-hole mouth.
This, like her drawn out answer to are you hungry, used to be a Mama-crazy maker.
Now I view it as her being more present than I could ever hope to be while eating.
Now I view it as virtually the definition of mindful eating.
Parties or special occasions are about far more than food.
Before we head to a birthday party for one of her peers the Tornado is filled with questions about the cake.
What it will look like. Will be cakecake, ice cream cake, or cup cakes. What flavor it will be. When will they cut it?
The list of questions go on and on.
Until we get to the party.
Once the fun begins—whatever the “fun” for that soiree is—the cake is entirely forgotten.
So much so she typically takes one bite & abandons the confection entirely in favor of frolicking with friends.
It’s all a great reminder that parties, holidays, & special events need not be about the food but about the socializing.
Time with friends can be just as decadent a treat or indulgence.
(heck not having to prepare food myself/clean up is a huge treat—no matter what we’re eating)
Eating as a family ROCKS.
I could quote statistics here but we all know how important family meals are.
Any meals, in my opinion.
Right now we are more family breakfasts than dinners and that’s ok.
While she doesn’t mind when she’s the only one eating (hello dinner at 5pm!) she clearly prefers the three of us at the table & no other distractions around.
Food. Family. Talking. Time together.
So there you have it, Oh Patient Readers.
Myriad meandering musings all gleaned from a five year old mind.
And you?
Whats your biggest mindful eating tip?
Have you watched others (from kids to friends to strangers) as they’ve eaten and picked up some tips along the way as well?
Please to hit us all up in the comments
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