Mindful Eating Day 4

Goal: Eat three real meals today.

Journal: Compare the differences between merely eating food and eating a real meal. How does the eating experience contribute to feelings of satisfaction?

Wow. This was kinda tough.  I didn't realize how routine and thoughtless me meals were.  I usually wake up, feed Naomi and play with her to keep he happy and entertained.  By the time it's 11am or 12noon, I realize that I'm hungry and haven't eaten anything all day.  So I go for something quick and easy-- cereal.  A mix of Special K Chocolaty Delight and Special K Fruit and Yogurt cereal with some 1% milk.  But Since I was more hungry and trying to think about what I really wanted that "morning" i decided I wanted some extra fruit and yogurt; so I made a smoothie, too.  What a difference making that smoothie did for my breakfast.  It was delicious!  I felt pumped enough to try doing some old workout DVDs that I hadn't used since before I got pregnant.  It felt so good!

After my workout, it was a little after 2pm.  I was supposed to be at work at 3pm.  But I needed to wake up Naomi from her nap, feed her, take a shower after working out, and eat a lunch before work.  Luckily, Brad came home right then, so he made me lunch.  I asked him to make me a tuna sandwich-- lots of protein after a good workout. I did need to eat it while driving to work... but I did put thought into what i wanted and why... does that count?  Sometimes it is just tough to eat a sit down meal! 

When I got home, it was time to start prepping dinner before I run off to my workout class at BYU.  Feed Naomi.  Go workout. Come home, and finish dinner.  Since Brad is studying like mad for a test, and Naomi is seriously craving attention since I've been gone for most of the last 4 hours, I eat in the living room while trying to entertain Naomi, and Brad's trying to study.

Yikes!  And this describes most days.  I don't think I really enjoyed my meals.  Breakfast was great, but I should have eaten it sooner.  I should have eaten lunch in less of a hurry, and at home instead of in the car on the way to work. And dinner would have felt better if it was on a table with the whole family there instead of spread across the house trying to get everything done.  While my stomach got full from my meals, I wasn't fully satisfied except after breakfast.  By the time 10pm rolled around, I was feeling hungry again, but didn't eat because of our running family biggest loser challenge.  I was cranky and tired.  I think if i can plan meals ahead better, the whole family could enjoy happier, more satisfying meals together.  I'm going to try and be better at this.