Eating Intuitively & Mindfully

1. Eating Intuitively & Mindfully April 25th, 2014 Monica Bashaw, MScA,Intern in Dietetics & Human Nutrition Edited by: Mary Hendrickson-Nelson, MSc, RD

2. Reflect… • How do you know WHEN to eat? • How do you choose WHAT to eat? • How do you know HOW MUCH to serve yourself? • HOW do you eat? • How do you know WHEN to stop eating?

3. Common Answers • How do you know WHEN to eat? • Plate/bowl is empty, TV show is over, feelings of fullness/stuffed, break is over • Hunger signals, clock, break time at work, my partner has dinner on the table, bored, visual or scent cues • How do you choose WHAT to eat? • Cravings/taste, availability, convenience, price, comfort, nutrition • How do you know HOW MUCH to serve yourself? • Fill the plate, fill ¾ bowl, habit, I don’t serve myself (Ex. cafeteria/restaurant or partner serves), package size • HOW do you eat? • On the go, with co-workers/family, in front of movie/TV, browsing internet, distracted • How do you know WHEN to stop eating?

4. Where do your cues fall? EMOTIONAL/ENVIRONMENTAL CUES Body’s hunger cues Choose nourishing foods to fuel body Using mindful techniques while eating – being present and savouring the eating experience No distractions while eating Body’s satiety cues PHYSICAL/MINDFUL CUES • Clock, habits • Sensory stimuli • Bored • Partner serves/offers food • Availability/free • Emotional eating - comfort • Serving size based on plate or bowl size/package size • Cafeteria/restaurant portions • Distractions present while eating • Finish eating when plate is empty, time is up, TV show finished, etc.

5. Are you TRULY hungry? HUNGER APPETITE “A desire or interest to eat a specific food, which is usually sweet, salty, or fatty” Triggers = emotions, sensory experiences, environmental stimuli Rapid onset Not time dependent May persist after eating Only satisfied with specific foods • “Biological response to replenish body’s energy reserves” • Triggers = low blood sugar, growling stomach, etc. • Gradual onset • Appears several hours after last meal • Diminishes with eating • Satisfied with ANY type of food http://blog.nasm.org/12-days-of-fitness/fitness-tips/simple-nutritional-strategies-part-1/

6. Focusing on PHYSICAL Cues HUNGER SCALE http://the-exercist.tumblr.com/post/52407446001/the-hunger-scale-is-an-intuitive-eating-guide-to-help

7. We Aren’t Listening! Stale Popcorn Bottomless Bowl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ogsmh_czeY 9:58 – 12:18  Brian Wansink, PH.D. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ogsmh_czeY • 6:10 – 9:25 http://bodybymitch.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/mindlesseating.jpg

8. Barriers • Habits • Strategies  Challenge your standard portion size, use smaller bowls and plates, and taller/narrower glasses • Which black dot is bigger? http://www.kidsmathgamesonline.com/images/pictures/illusions/delboeufillusion.jpg

9. Barriers cont. • Same portion, different sized plates • Take advantage of the optical illusion! “The EYES not the STOMACH count calories” http://goodnesssuperfoods.com.au/2012/02/struggling-with-portion-control-try-this-little-mind-trick/

10. Barriers cont. • Which glass contains more liquid? http://blog.mrmeyer.com/2013/great-moments-in-mathematical-invention/

11. Barriers Cont. • Availability • Strategy  Ask yourself “Am I truly hungry?” • Package size ≠ portion size • Strategy  Don’t snack out of the package • “Out of sight, out of mind” • Strategy  Put leftovers away before sitting down to eat • Bored • Strategies  Distract yourself by going for a walk, calling a friend, etc. Tribole, E., & Resch, E. (2012). Intuitive eating: A revolutionary program that works. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press. Wansink, B. (2007). Why we eat more than we think: Mindless eating. New York, NY: Bantam Books.

12. Barriers Cont. • Fatigue • Strategy  Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep Knutson, K.L. (2012). Does inadequate sleep play a role in vulnerability to obesity? American Journal of Human Biology,24(3), 361-371.

13. Barriers Cont. • Sensory stimuli • Strategies  Ask yourself “Hunger or Appetite?”, remove yourself from the environment, sip on water as a distraction, organize fridge and cupboards so healthy food appears first • Pre-served portions • Strategies  Don’t feel you have to finish your plate, take leftovers home, pause during meal and ask yourself “Where am I on the hunger scale?” • Emotional eating • Strategies  Identify your comfort foods, focus on eating them mindfully, do not restrict them Tribole, E., & Resch, E. (2012). Intuitive eating: A revolutionary program that works. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press. Wansink, B. (2007). Why we eat more than we think: Mindless eating. New York, NY: Bantam Books.

14. Barriers Cont. • Ravenous after work • Strategies? • Have easy to store snacks on hand at work • Nuts, oatmeal, fruit, cereal, peanut butter, protein powder, cheese and crackers, yogurt • Your snack should depend on how long until your next meal • 1 hour  fruit • Several hours  include a source of protein • Avoid the grocery store on the way home • Have ready to eat healthy snacks available at home • Pre-cut up fruit, veggies + hummus, cubed cheese

15. Barriers Cont. • Distracted eating • Strategy  Mindful eating approach • How to practice MINDFUL EATING • Remove distractions • Savour every bite • Use all of your senses while eating • Be grateful • Video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpyxEwl_10A Tribole, E., & Resch, E. (2012). Intuitive eating: A revolutionary program that works. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.

16. Dr. Alber’s mindful eating activity • Step 1: Put a Hershey’s Kiss in your hand, and feel the weight of it. Describe it to yourself – the shape, the color. Then listen to the crinkle of foil as you open it. • Step 2: Bring it up to your nose and smell it, taking deep whiffs of the aroma and thinking about the memories that emerge. • Step 3: Put the whole Kiss into your mouth. Notice the taste, the texture, and how it changes, how it melts in your mouth. Finally notice how it feels as you swallow it. http://eatingmindfully.com/

17. Other Helpful Tips • When serving food buffet style, start with vegetables, then meat and starch items • Keep vegetables/salad on the table during meals • Keep a bowl of fruit on the kitchen table • Do you find it hard to slow down at meal times? • Drink calorie-free beverages more often (espwater!) Wansink, B. (2007). Why we eat more than we think: Mindless eating. New York, NY: Bantam Books.

18. Other Helpful Tips • Do you snack while cooking? • Get active! • Just a few bites of dessert can satisfy a craving Joseph, R. J., Alonso-Alonso, M., Bond, D.S., Pascual-Leone, A., & Blackburn, G.L. (2011). The neurocognitive connection between physical activity and eating behavior. Obesity reviews , 12, 800-812.

19. Shifting Away From the Dieting Mentality • Dieting/calorie counting DON’T work and do MORE HARM than good Research shows that DIETING PREDICTS the following… http://beverageinstitute.org/us/webinar/intuitive-eating-creating-a-healthy-relationship-with-food-mind-and-body/

20. Why Diets DON’T Work!!! http://www.intuitive-nutrition.com/the-vicious-diet-cycle/

21. New Trends in Weight Loss • MINDFUL Eating • Learn to trust yourself • Internal/physical cues • Engage your senses • Enjoy the experience • Be aware of your environment • What are the benefits? Tribole, E., & Resch, E. (2012). Intuitive eating: A revolutionary program that works. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press. Wansink, B. (2007). Why we eat more than we think: Mindless eating. New York, NY: Bantam Books.

22. What about nutrition? • All foods fit, focus on food that nourishes your body • Manage your environment • Aim for “balanced plate/bowl” • ½ vegetable, ¼ grain, ¼ protein • Serving of dairy + fruit + http://thephotographer4you.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/glass-of-milk.jpg http://baby-recipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/banana.jpg Balanced plate and bowl from Mac Campus Cookbook, unpublished.

23. Start TODAY! • What are you going to plan to do differently… • When you feel hungry • When eating • In regards to your food environment http://healthateverysizeblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/supporter-indd.jpg

24. Create a SMART Goal • What are you going to plan to do differently… Example: “Starting this week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at work, I am going to focus on eating lunch mindfully” http://fitfunctionalfamilies.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/14198855-chalk-drawing-of-smart-goals-acronym-for-specific-measurable-achievable-realistic-and-timely-on-a-bl.jpg

25. Thank you!