Mindful Eating: Good for our Stomachs and our Minds

Many of us eat the same way we do everything else amid a busy day...mindlessly, whilst rushing and probably multitasking.

We find ourselves guilty of eating lunch at our desks, whilst on the phone or in the car. And eating meals so quickly, means not only do we not take any notice of the colours, aromas, flavours or textures ... it also robs you of the experience and enjoyment of one of life's simple pleasures.

Mindful eating is simply paying attention to our present moment experience, whilst being fully attentive and engaged with what we're eating. Using all our senses. And bringing our minds back to our food when our thoughts start taking over.

And why is mindful eating so important? 

We are designed to eat whilst we are relaxed so that our nervous system can activate the 'rest and digest' spectrum of our nervous system (parasympathetic). If we're rushing around and not fully present, it's harder for our brain and body - it may be operating closer to the 'fight or flight' spectrum of our nervous system (sympathetic), which makes digestion much harder for our bodies and we may not absorb all the food's nutrients or get tummy problems.

There are are many benefits of mindful eating, one is we simply enjoy our food more, but also, we tend to listen to our body's cues, noticing when we're full so we don't over-eat. It also creates purposeful space for us in our day to enjoy a mindful moment, giving our busy brains a break from the onslaught of 21st Century Living. Mindfulness is an invitation to slow down – an opportunity to create a positive shift in brain chemistry that leads to physical and emotional health benefits.

And what better way to practice mindfulness than to savour a piece of chocolate in a full-sensory exercise? Apparently chocolate has over 300 notes! Our friends at Flint Chocolate, who specialise in mouthwatering, organic, stone-ground chocolate, kindly wrote us a guide for Mindful Chocolate eating below. So grab your favourite bar and savour every mouthful.

Made to Be Eaten Mindfully

To most, chocolate is a single flavour.  But chocolate can be very complex, much like wine. There are many factors that impact cacao and the final flavour.  Including the bean varietal, origin, fermentation process and environmental factors, as well as the way the maker processes the beans into chocolate.  

Enjoy Mindfully

Like most fine things, craft chocolate should present you with a world of flavours to savour. Making every bite an opportunity to close your eyes and be lost in it for a short time.

Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your bar mindfully:

STORE: Chocolate should be stored airtight, away from strong odours and is best served at room temperature

SEE: What does the chocolate look like?  Is it shiny and glossy or dull?  Is it smooth or textured?  What depth of brown is the chocolate? 

SMELL:  Rub the chocolate to release the aromas. What do you smell? Spices? Fruits? Sweet notes or bitter ones? Like great coffee, the aroma of chocolate can itself be rich and comforting.

SAVOUR: Take a small piece and let it rest on your tongue and begin to melt. As it does, you should feel the smooth creamy texture of the chocolate and the intense flavours begin to come through.  Take as long as you can, moving the piece around your mouth, resisting the urge to chew.

The chocolate should have a lingering finish, with layers of earthy cacao and spice staying for some time after you have eaten the chocolate.

Mindfulness is the permission to slow down and engage fully.  What better way to do so than with a piece of good quality chocolate!  We hope you enjoy.

Flint has created a limited edition Mindful Bar for Mind Bright and especially for your Mindful chocolate eating experience. Carefully crafted, this bar is made with only single origin Trinitario beans from Vaisala, Samoa and organic coconut sugar, making it a beautifully simple, yet wonderfully complex bar. It is earthy and richly sweet but also boasts strong notes of molasses and caramel, with subtle hints of warm spice and cinnamon.

Head to Flint’s website to grab your limited edition Mindful Bar here and follow them on instagram here.