From snacking while watching TV to eating lunch at our desks, when we are concentrated on other tasks, it is easy to over consume. Eating without paying attention to portion control is a trap that many of us too easily fall into.

Mindful eating techniques mean using more awareness when it comes to what we put in our mouths and can help disrupt eating-without-thinking habits. Developing awareness while eating sounds relatively simple. The truth it, mindful eating is not much different to practising mindfulness in our day to day lives. Think of it as using all of your senses to eat what is in front of you. Begin with looking at your food before bringing a portion to your mouth, then chew slowly.

As you begin to incorporate more of these mindful moments into each meal, it will lead to a greater awareness about what you are eating and why you are eating it. This not only helps to reset mindless eating habits, but also aids with digestion and gives our bodies more time to signal it is full – a process that usually takes around 20 minutes.

Making an effort to practise mindful eating helps make us aware of how food makes us feel and why we eat it. What you put into your body has a significant impact on your health and wellbeing – and your overall quality of life.