fact melts away the fear…
Mindful Eating: A Piece of Chocolate
by meditative - October 1st, 2012.Filed under: Attending Meditation Exercises, Mindfulness for Parents & Children.
~ inspired by Andy Puddicombe, a Clinical Meditation Consultant and the co-founder of Headspace (www.getsomeheadspace.com)
This can be a wonderful exercise to practice with your children who tend to really enjoy a good piece of chocolate. Our household favorite is individually wrapped ‘chocolate coins’ from a local chocolatier. Below are a few useful tips on how to eat & savor it mindfully.
1) Before you pick up the chocolate take a couple of deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth, just to allow the body and mind to settle a bit and to be present with this activity. As best you can, try to mentally leave behind whatever you’re doing for a moment or two.
2) Take a moment to appreciate this piece of chocolate. Where has it come from? What’s in it? Try and imagine the different ingredients in their natural growing environment and even the types of people who might have grown the cocoa beans.
3) Before you begin to eat it, take pause to notice if there’s any feeling of impatience, of impulsively wanting to eat it as quickly as possible. Notice if there are also any feelings of pleasure and excitement, or feelings of guilt and unease, about the idea of eating the chocolate.
4) Slowly unwrap the piece of chocolate and then take a good minute or so to explore it with your eyes, nose and hands. Look at it closely, smell it carefully and then touch it to see how it feels.
5) By now you’ll be more than ready to taste it. Take a small bite (or alternatively put the whole thing in your mouth), but try to resist chewing the chocolate. Notice how it feels in the mouth, the temperature and the texture. Also become aware of the taste — whether it’s sweet, bitter, creamy etc. Try to allow the chocolate to melt in the mouth by gently moving it around with your tongue, rather than chewing it. Slowly swallow the chocolate and simply enjoy the lingering ‘aftertaste’ of the moment.
Remember to appreciate it… to savor it… and to enjoy it.
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