Our days are busy. Whether a student or teacher, we are all looking to reduce our stress and anxiety. Here are some tips for creating a dining atmosphere that fosters mindfulness, which can promote relaxation, rejuvenation and overall well-being. Plus, when we’re feeling good, food tastes better! Mindful Eating: KEEPING OUR MEALTIMES POSITIVE
Eat Mindfully with Others Mindful eating doesn’t have to be a solo activity. Encour- age students and faculty to engage with others and talk about what foods the people around them are eating and enjoying, or what they don’t like so much. Think of the Whole Supply Chain As a foodservice operator, you know a lot about where food comes from. Do your diners? Post prompts around the dining area that ask eaters to consider what it took to put their food on their plate. How many people were involved in growing, harvesting, processing, trucking and cooking the food? How do you think this food was created or grown? Where do you think this food came from? It’s a great moment to encourage gratitude for the people who grow and cook our food. And we all know that gratitude is good for our mental health! Create the Space Are you refreshing your dining area over the summer? Make the space into a haven for mindfulness! Use calm- ing colors. (Calm doesn’t have to be boring!) Show food in its natural state that highlights where food comes from. Maybe you have a school garden, this is also a great reminder of where food comes from and asks us to slow down and be present. Bring Your Team On Board Not sure where to start? Start with your team. Take a moment as you huddle at the start of the day to take a deep breath as a group. Ask the team what ingredients they are excited to work with today. Or what they had for breakfast. Perhaps you have a meal together during the day, share some mindful eating practices and bene- fits with the group and see what they think. If your team is calm, it will spread throughout the space. Ready to reduce stress? Consider sharing mindful eating practices at your school. It can have a profound impact.
What is Mindful Eating? Mindful eating is the practice of being fully present and aware during a meal. We often find ourselves shoveling a snack into our bodies, only to look down and realize somehow, the whole bag of pretzels is gone. Being mindful while eating includes focusing on the feelings, flavors, thoughts, and emotions that arise during the process of eating. It means paying attention to the colors, textures, flavors, and smells of food, as well as being aware of hunger and satiety cues. It can help us appreciate our food more, be in tune with our bodies, avoid overeating and can help improve diges- tion. It also helps us relax and disengage from other stressful things happening in our world. School and college food service operators can incor- porate elements of mindfulness in a space to create a calming and relaxing atmosphere for students. This can include: Quiet Spaces Consider designating specific areas within your dining hall as a quiet zone. Anyone looking for a quiet, dis- traction-free environment can go here. Mindful Eating Practices Educate students about the principles of mindful eat- ing and encourage them to practice it during meal- times. This can involve simple exercises such as taking a few deep breaths before eating, chewing slowly and savoring each bite, and paying attention to the sensa- tions of hunger and fullness. Provide eaters with re- sources that explain how to slow down, clue into all five senses and be present while chewing. It doesn’t have to be practiced during the entire meal, but even a few bites can provide a helpful reset.
Annelise McAuliffe Soares | Ready Foods Annelise is the Director of Marketing & Brand Stewardship at Ready Foods in Denver, Colorado. Graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Annelise has spent her career making sure food sounds appetizing on paper, looks good in pictures and tastes amazing when you order it. Her day-to-day consists of working at Ready Foods to connect food service operators with ready-to-use kitchen solutions that are delicious, not difficult. Her favorite hot lunch in elementary school was always nacho day.
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