I Challenge You To Sit Down

I challenge you to sit down every time you eat.

In Sydney, it’s not at all unusual to see people eating lunch or drinking coffees while walking along the street. During our recent trip to the beautiful country of Japan, we noticed that very few people tended to eat or drink while walking around. We quickly discovered that it is generally considered bad manners to eat while on the move. There is an attitude towards food in Japan as it being something to be appreciated, savoured and enjoyed.

I realised quite quickly that our family, especially while travelling, does a lot of eating on the run. In our fast paced life we have fallen into the habit of grabbing something to eat while we are running out the door, or throwing down a snack in the car between activities. When in Japan, I discovered how often we were using our time waiting for trains or in lines to reach for a snack - especially for the kids - rather than carving out time to sit down and enjoy a meal.

When walking, walk. When eating, eat.

“Mindful eating” is one of those buzz terms that is popular now in the world of health and fitness. The Oxford dictionary defines mindfulness as “the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something…..focusing one’s awareness in the present moment.” Mindful eating is simply making sure that when you do eat, you are doing it in a conscious manner. You notice what you are eating, how much you are eating, and you enjoy what you are eating. We are so often distracted while we are eating, whether it be in front of the computer, watching TV, or in the car. I also find myself nibbling on food while I am cooking or preparing lunches. Then when it’s time to sit down and eat the meal, I’m not all that hungry.

There are a number of negative health consequences associated with eating on the run:

We eat more: When we are not concentrating on what we are eating, we miss our body’s hunger / satiety cues and continue to eat mindlessly, even when we are full.
We eat the wrong foods: When eating on the run, we tend to reach for highly processed snack foods that are unhealthy and unsatisfying.
We develop unhealthy habits: Such as buying a packet of chips every time we stop at the service station, or eating sweets whenever we are watching a movie, or always needing a cup of coffee when at the computer.
Effects digestion: Your body needs to be relaxed in order to process food efficiently, so it makes sense that we should sit down and be relaxed while eating.

My family and I have taken on a challenge, and we would love you to join us.

For the next 30 days, any time we have anything to eat or drink (other than water) we must be sitting down. I am also going to set myself the goal of eating mindfully which means when I am eating, I am only eating and will not be at the computer or watching TV (I can of course be talking to family or friends and am allowing myself to read a book if I am alone).

There is one caveat here as I know at this time of year there are lots of events coming up and may include cocktail parties where it is not possible to sit down. During these times, I suggest you at least stand still while you are eating and enjoy every mouthful. Are you with me?