
6. Eating on the go is a big no-no
In this day and age, it can be difficult to find the time to sit down and eat one meal, let alone three meals every day. Everyone is so stressed and busy it’s almost impossible. But eating on the go is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when it comes to healthy eating, and the Japanese people know this. In their culture, it’s considered impolite to eat while you are on the go, whether you’re walking on the street or using public transport. They believe eating is a sacred time to refuel and energize the body, and as such, they devote time to every meal to sit down and focus on food. When we walk or move around, our brains are distracted by doing two (or more) things at once. Because of this, we don’t notice the signals our body sends us that tell us we’re full. Eating mindlessly means we can’t keep track of the food we’ve eaten, which is why we can eat a whole bag of crisps while watching TV, without even realizing it.

As mentioned before, adopting the practice of mindful eating can aid in weight control and a healthy relationship with food. Think of all the distractions you have around you right now. So many outside influences impact our health, but mindful eating reigns in that lack of control. It also allows us to focus solely on ourselves, for just a few minutes each meal. To eat mindfully, ask yourself these questions: am I tasting each bite? How does my body feel right now? Full, or still hungry? Am I finding joy in this food, or am I regretful? Eating mindfully has even been believed to help psychological food disorders like binge eating and bulimia. Continued attempts at mindful eating will allow you to reconnect with your body’s cues, building a better relationship with yourself. You will also be able to manage your emotions better, as overeating can often come about from stress, depression or anxiety.