Mindful Eating

When it's time for me to eat, I get ready by sitting down at the table. Before I take a bite, I take a moment to look at my food. I see all the different colors and shapes on my plate. Then, I take a big sniff to smell everything.

Next, it is time to taste my food. I take one little bite at a time. I put a small piece of food in my mouth and chew it slowly. I think about how it feels and tastes. Is it crunchy like a cracker, or is it soft like a banana? Chewing slowly helps my tummy understand that food is coming.

While I am eating, it is important for me to listen to my body. I ask my tummy, 'Are you still hungry, or are you full?' When my tummy feels happy and comfortable, that is its way of telling me it has had enough to eat. That is when I know it is time to stop eating.