Mindful Eating

Mindfulness and meditation have innumerable benefits that can make your virtual session fuller -- from calming the mind to increasing focus. However, many people struggle with understanding what mindfulness is and how one practices it. This simple activity is a really easy and tangible way to have participants be in the moment and surrender to their senses. All they need is something to eat! Thus, perhaps this activity is best suited for after a short break when everyone can go grab something to take a bite out of.

Many cultures attribute ritual and respect to their meals. Meals are often shared, joyful experiences that bring people together. Sadly, in our Western culture, particularly in this day and age of productivity and grind, these rituals have been lost. Most of us shovel food down our throats between two virtual meetings without really stopping to enjoy the nourishment that is fueling our bodies. This mindless eating and detachment from the food is the root cause of so much that is wrong in our society.

In this simple exercise, you will invite all of your participants to turn off their cameras and to follow along as you guide them through a meditation. Ask them to pick up the food that they chose to bring to this activity. Have them feel it in their hand. Ask questions about its texture, its temperature. Then have them smell the food. Let them deeply inhale the aroma. Is it sweet? Is it acrid? How is the body responding to the smell? Is their mouth watering or their stomach grumbling? Prior to taking a bite, have them think about where to food comes from and the people and animals involved in the process of getting it from where it began, to where it is now. Have them mentally express their gratitude for all involved in that process. Then have them take a bite. Don't have them swallow. Ask them to let the food sit in their mouth for a minute. Let them notice the taste of the food. Let them feel the heat/cold of the food on their tongue. Have them chew, slowly, a few times, still not swallowing. What is the texture? What is the taste? What are the memories that come up? Savor the bite. Then swallow. If time is allowed, have them take another few bites and really enjoy every moment of it.

This activity will not only let the participants have a deeper connection with themselves, but also feel connected to the planet (from which the food came) and the many people who (most likely) helped get that food to them. It also gets the participants into their bodies and grounds them in their senses. Their busy days will feel miles away after a few minutes of enjoying their food!

As always, if you chose to use this activity, please feel free to let me know how it goes and if there is anything you would change or recommend! I love hearing how these activities translate into your own virtual community. Enjoy!