EATING

How Mindfulness Helps

The process of eating is an excellent introduction to mindfulness. Even before you put food in your mouth, taste it before you actually taste. In other words, imagine the flavours, textures and temperature on your tongue before you eat it. By being present to one chewing motion at a time, you will experience even more enjoyment in the culinary delight and find that you will probably eat less and get full quicker than normal. Furthermore, mindfully chewing each mouthful approximately fifteen times will ensure better digestion of the food being consumed. If alone when eating, this technique will allow you to fully appreciate the meal and, if eating in a group, 'mindful munching' will lend itself to a more peaceful, harmonious interaction with others around the table.

The Diary

And now, the chocolate ice cream is tantalising my tastebuds as its coolness massages my entire tongue. At the same time, the cocoa impresses on the tongue tip while its sweetness ignites the sides. A squirt of saliva is timely as it assists the delightful substance to disappear down the back of my throat and into my stomach. I can still feel its coolness inside me. In the desert bowl there are two scoops remaining. The varying shades of brown and chunky bits of chocolate reflect the light from the ceiling and a nutty smell rises from the buried broken cashews. The density of the ice cream is firm as I poke the spoon into the middle of a scoop.

Unlike other more solid foods, I am even more alert to this Presence-enhancing experience by chewing less and allowing God's cold creation to simply melt in my mouth as its temperature gradually surrenders to the heat on my tongue. The silence in this moment is overshadowed by taste sensations, causing me to make ecstatic groaning noises. I try to recreate each flavoursome moment by repetitively rubbing my tastebuds on the roof of my mouth. With an appetite for several more spoonfuls, I pace myself without any rush to end this blissful experience.

* * *

And now, I am present to the powerful spice of the Japanese wasabi root. If you want to feel a sudden arising of Presence, then smear wasabi onto a piece of sushi, dip it in soy sauce and place it upside down on your tongue and commence chewing ... At this moment, as I chew a mouthful of rice, tuna, soy sauce and wasabi, an amazing sensation overcomes me. Wham! My nostrils flare and my eyes water as this ancient ground root pasty substance sends messages to my brain to wake up and become extra alert. There is no space for thought as I quickly discover there is a fine line between pleasure and pain. A gulp of cold, refreshing water is a nice palette cleanser and I now contemplate another piece of sushi decorated with the quirky green paste. This time I allow the wasabi to touch the roof of my mouth first instead of the tongue. A delay in the spice reaction occurs and is less intense than the last.

All five senses are fully engaged in togetherness as I chew slowly and deliberately to enhance the experience. My mind dares me to place an extra pinch of wasabi in between my lips to intensify the experience. So now, with the additional kick, my nostrils start dripping clear liquid as the Japanese spice does its pipe cleaning and blood purifying job most effectively.

* * *

And now, I am present to vaporizing sensations of peppermint on each inhale through the nostrils as my teeth crunch two Fisherman's Friend branded candy pieces. The flavour on my tongue is constant and unforgiving. Each breath taken in packs the most powerful punch on the throat and lungs whilst giving rise to an intense sense of Presence. My eyes are watering, fists are clenched and the senses of taste and touch are in overdrive. The youthful disposition I possess tempts me to put another two harmless-looking white mints into my mouth to relive the previous intense adventurous taste sensation. Crushing and pulverising the confectionery suddenly gives rise to the equivalent of a fireworks show exploding onto my tongue and up into my nasal passages. The main difference from the wasabi being the ice-coolness, rather than heat.

It is fascinating to note that apart from the candy-crunching sounds, everything else is muffled due to the sense of taste in the foreground working overtime. Moment by moment as the intensity gradually subsides, I become present again to the broader surroundings. A sip of cold water soothes and chills the palette and inner cheeks with a swish or two. A long, deep inhale through the nostrils forces my eyes to open wider and puts an end to a relatively cost-effective experience.

* * *

And now, the deep purple colour and vibrancy of a freshly made berry smoothie drink is jumping out at me alongside a tall glass of bright orange, carrot and ginger juice. Yes, a liquid lunch will cleanse my temple pipes. One sip at a time alternately from each glass makes me present and grateful to these antioxidant-rich beverages that are now travelling through my physical body and igniting almost orgasmic sensations of anti-ageing and bliss.

This next mouthful of smoothie reveals the drops of sweet honey I included in the mix. And this next mouthful of juice gradually exposes my tongue to the fiery ginger spice before doing its work on the inside. Placing my hands around each glass of Godly goodness and feeling a vibrant yet subtle energy, gives rise to Presence that constantly exists in plant life even after it has been pulverised in a blender. This is one of many friendly reminders of what really matters in life here on earth.

Paying attention to the assorted berries in the smoothie, I become aware of the difference in flavours between the raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries and strawberries. The texture is sometimes chewy as I negotiate a random blueberry that escaped the wrath of the blender's blade. Also each present moment is being consumed with the mild crunch between my front teeth of the tiny strawberry and blackberry seeds.

* * *

And now, having just enjoyed my mother and father's company at the Koko Black chocolatier café, I stand waiting to make payment for the coffees and hot chocolate whilst observing hundreds of varying shapes of bite size chocolate creations behind a long glass case. Nostalgia summons my inner child and my eyes widen with delight as I commence visually scanning the plethora of edible art in delicious shades of brown. On this next inhale, aromas of cocoa, cream, nuts and fruit make their way into my nostrils. I start swallowing the saliva that my glands are producing as a result of associated brain activity.

The best part about this experience is that I do not know...