Eating Archives - Enlightened Solutions

What Is Mindful Eating and Should I Practice It?

Written by enlightened solutions on November 29, 2022. Posted in Healthy Living.

What do you think when you hear the term “mindful eating”? Before answering that question, you need to know what mindfulness entails. The practice of being mindful refers to being present. It means to be aware of your thoughts, feelings, and senses in a given moment.

Practicing mindfulness has many benefits and can lead to better focus, sleep, and overall performance and health. When it comes to addiction recovery, mindfulness plays a significant role in change and healing. Learn more about the important benefits of practicing mindfulness in recovery from addiction to drugs or alcohol here.

Being mindful requires you to drown out distractions. This is necessary for you to focus on being present in the moment. It may sound simple, but it can take some practice to master for some people.

The Practice of Mindful Eating

Mindful eating requires the same attention to your experience in the moment. The idea is to focus on each bite, noting each flavor and texture. Sounds easy, right? It can be. It can also be tough to kick old habits that make mindful eating difficult. Below are a few tips for practicing mindful eating, followed by the benefits of enjoying food this way.

#1. Remove Distractions

When was the last time you had a meal without watching TV, scrolling on your phone, or having a conversation with someone? In today’s society, eating a meal without some sort of distraction or level of multitasking is a rarity.

Mindful eating requires complete focus on the food you are putting in your mouth. In order to achieve this level of focus, you have to put down your phone and turn off your TV. You might find that you enjoy your food more when you take the time to really appreciate it.

#2. Slow Down

Everyone is in a rush these days. Taking the time to sit down and slowly eat a meal is not always possible. More often than not, we scarf down our breakfast to get out the door in time for work. Or, we mindlessly eat our lunch or dinner in a hurry only to move on to the next activity.

Try slowing down a bit. Make an effort to chew each bite thoroughly and allow your taste buds to fully experience each bite you take. Eating your meals slower has many benefits aside from providing you the opportunity to appreciate the food you are consuming.

#3. Eat the Right Amount

We all can admit to overeating on occasion. Additionally, we can probably all recall a situation where we skipped a meal or grabbed a handful of almonds and called it lunch. By prioritizing your meals and taking time to eat them properly, you allow your body time to process the nutrients and recognize when it is satisfied.

When you eat too fast, it can be easy to consume too much. When you don’t prioritize and plan time for meals, you may not eat enough. Either scenario can leave you feeling lethargic, distracted, and unwell.

As you become more accustomed to mindful eating, you will learn the best portion sizes and be able to determine what your body needs. Focusing on how the food you eat makes you feel can offer insight and help you understand the signals when your body has had enough.

The Benefits of Mindful Eating

Participating in regular mindful eating can have many benefits to your overall health and wellness. If you are struggling with substance abuse or are in treatment or recovery, eating well is essential to your success. At Enlightened Solutions, we offer wellness and nutrition groups that feature harvesting, cooking, and preparing healthy and organic meals. Our clients are encouraged to practice mindfulness throughout every day, and mealtime is no exception.

Mindful eating can be advantageous to the mind and body in many ways. A few examples include:

Better focus
Improved sleep
Weight management
Less waste
Better digestion
Reduced stress
Increased self-awareness

As you can see, mindful eating can enhance your life in many significant ways. If you love food, why not make the extra effort to really enjoy it? Substance abuse can significantly affect your appetite, digestion, and metabolism. Mindful eating can help restore balance and promote better functioning.

The next time you sit down for a meal and habitually open up your phone to start scrolling, remind yourself to stop and take a moment to enjoy your food. You might gain a new appreciation for what you eat and how it can fuel your body. Mindfulness in all areas of life is beneficial. Adopting the practice of mindful eating can help you feel well, allowing you to focus on your goals in treatment and recovery.

The practice of mindful eating is something we could all benefit from. It involves appreciating and focusing on each bite. There are many advantages to this important practice. These can include better focus, more quality sleep, improved digestion, less stress, and more. Mindfulness is something we focus on at Enlightened Solutions. We believe that the connection between the mind, body, and spirit is essential when it comes to success in recovery. We also prioritize eating well and harvest fresh, organic ingredients from our garden to serve our clients. This allows for healing from the inside out. If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction, we can help. Reach out to Enlightened Solutions today by calling (833) 801-LIVE.

How Organic Eating Supports Sobriety

Written by enlightened solutions on October 5, 2022. Posted in Sober Living.

Do you eat organic? Some choose to search for exclusively organic ingredients for recipes, while others may buy organic produce here and there. Maybe you feel like organic foods are too expensive. You might find yourself price-comparing at your local grocery store, asking yourself if the extra few cents, or in some cases a few extra dollars, are worth it. Organic foods are free of harmful pesticides and often contain an abundance of beneficial vitamins and minerals.

If extra cost is a concern, it may be worth considering learning to grow and harvest your own organic foods. This can reduce additional costs and has many therapeutic advantages as well. Learn more about the benefits of growing your own organic produce here.

Consuming organic and nutrient-dense foods can benefit you in a variety of ways. When it comes to addiction recovery, eating a healthy diet can provide healing. It supports your sobriety by helping you feel your mental and physical best.

Mental Health Benefits

Eating a healthy, balanced diet made up of organic and nutrient-dense foods benefits your mental health in several ways. Have you experienced that sluggish midday feeling that tends to hit shortly after lunch? While this can undoubtedly be credited to a busy morning or perhaps a restless night before, it can be a result of your diet.

Eating whole and organic foods can help boost your energy and result in fewer mood fluctuations. This makes you more productive and more positive throughout each day. If you are in treatment or recovery and working to maintain your sobriety, this can be very important.

Keeping a positive outlook and staying motivated is critical throughout recovery. By eating organic and healthy foods, you are more likely to feel up to attending recovery meetings and going to therapy, and you will have the energy to engage in activities that you enjoy and can keep you busy.

Physical Health Benefits

In addition to mental health benefits, eating nutritious and organic foods can also benefit your physical health. Addiction to drugs or alcohol can take a huge toll on your physical health, often causing damage to major organs and system functions. You likely are not maintaining a healthy diet during this time and may be depriving your body of the nutrients it needs. Eating organic foods can help your body heal internally and promote restoration.

Additionally, organic foods are rich in vitamins and minerals. This can help strengthen your immune system and lead to fewer health problems. If you feel good, you can better focus on your sobriety.

Eating Healthy During the Holidays

Eating healthy and choosing organic foods can sometimes be more challenging around the holidays. You are likely to attend events where others are preparing dishes and desserts that may not be part of your typical diet. It is important to continue to eat healthy even during the holidays; however, don’t get yourself too worked up about it.

You want to be able to enjoy the time with friends and family and focus on making memories while keeping your goals in mind. Think about it this way: If you know that you will probably be having a few extra desserts one weekend, make an effort to make good food choices throughout the week. Or, be sure to balance your food choices throughout the weekend. Fill your plate with organic fruits and vegetables before having that slice of cake.

Here are a few tips for supporting your sobriety with healthy eating during the holidays:

#1 Bring Healthy Snacks

Planning ahead when it comes to the holidays is always a good idea in recovery. Just as you might plan to leave events early or bring a few of your own beverages to a party, plan to bring some healthy snacks to enjoy along with the dessert buffet at Thanksgiving.

#2 Drink Plenty of Water

Staying hydrated complements a healthy, organic diet beautifully. Making sure you are drinking plenty of water in addition to eating well is key when it comes to feeling well after treating yourself to some pumpkin pie.

#3 Control Portion Size

Whether you are enjoying a delicious organic meal or feasting on some of grandma’s sweet potato casserole, portion size is essential to keep in mind.

#4 Avoid Overthinking or Stressing

Stressing too much about what you eat during the holidays can make your time with friends and family less enjoyable. Make efforts to stay on track and eat whole, organic foods when you can.

Holidays are meant for spending time with those you love. Sometimes, that involves sharing brownies or other treats. Making efforts to eat healthily and choosing fresh, organic foods most of the time is what it is all about. This promotes your physical and mental health and, as a result, will aid in your successful recovery journey.

Organic eating has many benefits when it comes to overall health and recovering from addiction. The better you feel mentally and physically, the more likely you are to be successful in recovery. Eating healthy promotes better focus, better sleep, and even helps balance and improve your mood. At Enlightened Solutions, we recognize the many benefits of organic eating and serve meals using the freshest organic ingredients straight from our farm and garden. We believe in the healing power of nutritious food and the ability it has to bring us together and create a sense of community. If you are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, we would love to teach you more about the benefits of organic eating and holistic living when it comes to addiction recovery. To learn more about our treatment programs, call Enlightened Solutions today at (833) 801-LIVE.

Why Is Eating Organic Food Good for Me?

Written by enlightened solutions on June 19, 2022. Posted in Recovery.

In Unlocking Eden, Joe Horn and Daniel Belt explore the idea that man needs elements from the earth to survive. We must understand that the earth provides us with incredible nutrients to ensure our health and total well-being. The closer our intake comes from natural resources, the more nutrition we receive. The more nutrition we put in our bodies, the more capable we are of healing from sickness and overcoming stress.

Food can heal us or create dysfunction in our bodies. As you enter recovery from addiction, whether it be from alcohol or other substances, you will need to detox your body and reprogram yourself to live your life in total health. One part of developing complete well-being is eating healthy foods. Healthy foods do not include chemicals.

At Enlightened Solutions, we know you need to detox from all harmful substances, including the pesticides found in most fruits and vegetables as well as the harmful effects of hormones and other additives found in processed foods. True healing comes from the earth and its natural resources, which include organic food. Organic produce is grown without the use of pesticides or other harmful chemicals. It is important to recognize why incorporating organic food into your diet can change the course of your recovery and your life for the better.

How Can Organic Food Improve Well-Being?

In the article, “The Potential Influence of Organic Food Consumption and Intention-Behavior Gap on Consumers’ Subjective Well-Being,” authors Diana Ismael and Anjelika Ploeger examine the relationship between food and well-being. They found that three dimensions of well-being were impacted by participants’ use of organic food in their diets. The study found participants to have better physical, mental, and emotional health as they ate more nutritious foods.

An aspect of eating “organic” is the likelihood that you may adopt a healthier lifestyle. Not only are you eating foods that are more nutritious, but you are also more likely to treat your body better and have more respect for yourself.

Relative to overcoming addiction, using whole foods while detoxing will improve your success in recovery. Avoiding chemicals of any sort during detox will improve your health and better enable your body to thrive, which will improve your outlook on life and push you into optimal well-being.

What Is Optimal Well-Being?

Optimal well-being is the ability to thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally. As you decrease the chemicals you put into your body, you are better able to develop resilience and withstand the pressures and stresses of daily living. As you battled addiction, you might have also been battling malnutrition. You may have stopped eating, or you may have just been eating to keep going, supplementing your energy levels with quick fixes of sugar and caffeine, which resulted in “crashing” and struggling to keep going. In short, your body was not at its best.

Organic food does not facilitate “crashing” as the substances wane in your body. Instead, organic food lasts and provides you with essential nutrients as you go about your day. This lack of “crashing” enables you to avoid using substances to keep yourself going. Organic food helps you develop good health patterns and helps you continue to choose a healthy lifestyle.

Good Nutrition Enhances Confidence

At Enlightened Solutions, we know the better you physically feel, the more engaged you will be with your life and your recovery. Engagement with life may have been difficult as you were struggling with addiction to alcohol and/or other substances or behaviors. You may have been hiding from the stress of life, trauma, or other health conditions. As you press into recovery, you will learn how to balance your life, but first, you must learn to help your body find balance – and that comes with good nutrition.

Good nutrition creates the ability for your brain to function at its best, which allows you to process your emotions and address your needs. Being able to process your emotions, needs, and wants is essential in recovery. When you deny yourself nutrients, you deny yourself a life worth living and inhibit your confidence.

Having a life worth living involves integrating your emotional self-care with physical self-care. You cannot expect to have your best life unless you are caring for all aspects of who you are. The beginning of self-care begins by taking care of your body, which means proper nutrition, exercise, sleep, and good hygiene.

At Enlightened Solutions, we want to see you achieve your best life, which is why we focus on holistic healing and have nutrition and wellness groups. We know you have struggled. You deserve your best life.

The time has come for you to begin your best life. Eating whole and organic foods can improve the outlook of your physical, mental, and emotional health. At Enlightened Solutions, we provide holistic care for your whole being. We provide nutritional support and want you to experience whole-body healing. We know detoxing from alcohol and/or other substances can be difficult and want to give you the tools for success and help you develop long-term health, avoiding all chemicals in your food, which is why we offer organic farm-to-table food. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction to alcohol or other substances, the time has come to find whole-body healing. At Enlightened Solutions, we are ready to help you build your best life – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Contact us at (833) 801-LIVE and learn how to start eating and living in total health.

Tag: Eating