Experts have proven that mindfulness in all areas of our lives can improve overall well-being and help to promote healthier relationships. For children, early mindfulness practices can also improve academic performance, increase focus, and generally lead to a better sense of self.
Yet, when it comes to manic family mealtimes, mindful practices are often sadly lacking. After all, this is a time of the day that you probably just want to put behind you. Kids moan about what’s on their plates, and getting everyone to sit down at once is an endless struggle.
But, the benefits of mindful family meals are undeniable, and they include improved communication and healthier relationships with food. The question is, how can you turn your currently manic mealtime process into a more mindful, beneficial part of everyone’s day?
Step 1: Get everyone involved in the cooking process
Mealtime mindfulness ultimately begins and ends with the food we eat. To start implementing mindfulness in this area of family life, it’s therefore essential to get the whole family in the kitchen.
By giving your kids even small cooking tasks, you lead them to interact with their meals and the ingredients used within them in brand new ways. And, this can lead to an increased understanding of nutrition and cooking processes, as well as a brand new appreciation for meals they’re sure to eat more mindfully moving forward.
Step 2: Take meals outside
Indoor eating setups often involve interruptions from things like pinging phones or kids who leap down as soon as they’ve finished eating. There’s certainly not much reflection going on in these instances!
By comparison, taking meals outside can lead to a whole new mindful outlook, and can encourage peaceful, wholesome meals where everyone dedicates their full attention to their food and one another.
Obviously, this will work best during the summer months, but there are ways to make outdoor family dining work year-round, either by installing an outdoor fireplace to eat next to (incidentally, fire is also great for mindfulness), or a sheltered decking or patio area where you can eat even when it rains. And, you can bet the pitter patter of raindrops will help you all get into a more mindful, receptive, mealtime head-space!
Step 3: Serve meals family-style
Pre-served family meals make sense. They save hassle and mess, and ensure that everyone’s eating healthy options. But, this level of control leaves little room for mindful eating, and it’s a large part of the reason behind tantrums and food refusal.
You can overcome a lot of these issues by serving your meals family-style instead. This means putting the elements of your meals into bowls for the middle of the table, rather than straight onto everyone’s plates. For kids, this choice is great, and can lead to more willing, healthy food choices. The communal vibe of these meals can also help to encourage healthier, open discussions about food, and life more generally.
Mindful family meals can put table tantrums and resistance to bed, especially if you make them possible using these pointers.
