Mindful eating could be your secret weapon to stay healthy this holiday!

The holidays are just around the corner and who doesn't love a little Christmas treat?! With festive mince pies, drinks and social party platters popping up at every event, Christmas is a time when many of you will visit with family, friends or attend a work party. Treating yourself and enjoying these social engagements can be extremely positive for your mental health, but there is often a temptation to overeat. It is also easy to consume an abundance of nutrient lacking foods at this time of year. Sadly, this can have a negative effect on your mental and physical wellbeing.

The impact of regular overeating

Being in the moment and throwing your healthy eating habits out the window for a day or two will not make too much difference. However, if you find yourself eating more than you would, or you regularly end up feeling uncomfortably full after your meals, this could have an impact on your wellbeing.

Overeating, especially for prolonged periods can lead to feelings of guilt. It can make you crave more unhealthy food, disrupt hunger regulation, cause gas and bloating, increase your risk of weight gain and disease. It can also result in mental discomfort and poor health.

So, here is my RTWellness top tip.

You may hear Health and Wellness coaches and Nutritionists say "be mindful," and wonder, "what does this really mean? or how do I do that!?."

This is where I can help.

What is mindful eating?

Imagine this scenario... You are at a restaurant or friends house or party. You've had your main meal and may be full. Perhaps you weren't even particularly hungry to begin with!

Late in the evening, the sweet treats are brought out. (tip! if you don't have much of a sweet tooth, you can apply this technique to any food item.)

As you take a bite, tune into your senses and focus on what you are eating.

Ask yourself, "what flavour/texture am I tasting? Do I like it?"

Even if you are socialising, allow yourself a moment to be in tune with your senses. This is a huge part of mindful eating.

Whether you eat one bite or ten bites they will ALL taste EXACTLY the same!!

If you find yourself over indulging or eating just for the sake of it, remind yourself. "This next bite will not give me anything different from the one I've just had."

It is OK to put down a half eaten mince pie or cookie, you do not need to finish it.

Half of it tastes exactly the same as the whole thing and if you have tuned in to your senses and the textures and tastes of that whatever you're eating, you'll have enjoyed the experience of eating, rather than mindlessly eating it all in one go.

It is important to have a healthy relationship with food and remain in control and mindful. Of course you should enjoy the food you eat and determin how much of it to consume based on your hunger levels or nutritional needs, but being mindful allows you to determine when you are satisfied, whilst increasing your experience of food. Making healthy nutritional choices and knowing when to stop eating is essential for optimal health and wellness.

If you would like more information on how to improve your relationship with food contact me today to book your free 15 minute nutrition consultation.

Book a health and wellness session with Rachel Tinker by visiting www.RTWellness.com