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ACTIVITY

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Mindful Eating Activity

FOUNDATIONAL practice

INTRODUCTION

The ‘Mindful Eating Activity’ aims to inspire students to be;

  • Present while eating
  • Grateful for food
  • Curious as to where their food comes from
  • Savour food with all their senses. 

Practice Time:

5-10 minutes

Prep Time:

2-5 minute for introduction and snack distribution

Mindfulness Skills:

Mindful eating, Gratitude, Observation & Awareness

Supplies:

Healthy, allergy-free snacks (Fruit bars, Granola bars, fruit etc.)

Sitting in a comfortable position, observe the snack in front of you. Maybe give it a smell or observe the colour and texture. Take a small bite when you are ready!

Chew slowly. Notice the flavour, texture and aroma of the snack. Think of words that describe this snack to you! Crunchy, sweet, cold, smooth, spicy, bland, warm, juicy, salty…

Continuing to chew slowly. Observe how you feel without judgement. Is the snack enjoyable? Have you had this food before? Are you feeling hungry? Does chewing slowly feel different to you?

Take another bite when you’re ready. As you continue to slowly chew, foster gratitude and curiosity around your snack. Who offered you this snack? Did you thank them? How was this snack made? Where does it come from? How many people went into the production of this food and how long did it take? We are lucky to be nourished by the food we eat so expressing gratitude is very important.

Remain present as you continue to eat, maybe even finishing your snack. Listen to your body – Are you full? Did this snack taste good to you? Would you like to save the rest for later? Are you done eating?

Answer the reflection questions and talk about how gratitude and curiosity can further be practiced while eating.

Reflection Questions:

  1. How did you feel while engaging in this practice? Did you get impatient having to eat slowly? 
  2. Were you able to keep your attention on the practice’s instructions? 
  3. How did you feel about eating mindfully? Did you like it or dislike it? Why? 
  4. How does this practice differ from how we normally eat food? Did the food taste different while eating mindfully? 
  5. Can you see yourself eating the first bite of food more mindfully after this practice?
  6. Do you see yourself being more grateful for food after this practice?