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Mindful Eating

Chopsticks are a way to practice mindful eating.

Spring is a time of increased activity. Students of every age celebrate athletic and academic achievement. More formal events like prom and graduation take place. Adults may travel for work, play in a rec league sport, or connect with a book club. Families meet for playdates at the park. Easter services usually take place.

This year, however, church pews will be vacant. Nuclear families may convene instead on social media and visit digitally in the name of social distancing.

Playgrounds are typically filled with children in the spring, but now stand vacant.

With the change of seasons, our routines alter. Currently however, we aren’t accustomed to a change of this caliber, and it’s throwing us all for a loop. Amber Letcher is an associate professor at South Dakota State University in Counseling and Human Development. She is also a 4-H Youth Development Specialist. “Anytime a routine gets messed up a little bit, that causes anxiety and stress. Just the lack of control, that's always stress inducing,” says Letcher. “And so we really don’t have control over when we get back to our routine.”

One tool that Letcher offers is the exercise of mindfulness. Mindfulness is amental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Mindfulness is often used as a therapeutic technique.

Feelings of stress might be amplified right now.

Six mindful activities.

Preparing food can be a mindfulness practice. “Stress baking” and “stress cooking” offer an outlet for those who’ve noticed an upswing in food posts on social media. To mindfully prepare food, we can engage in multiple senses while making a meal or treat. We might expand a skill set if we try a new recipe or reconnect with family by making a favorite recipe. Letcher elaborates. “Relying on a traditional or a family favorite recipe is going to provide some comfort. You go back to the memories that are associated with making that meal. And then using this time to learn a new technique, since we have the time that we rarely do today is also going to be beneficial.”

Letcher and SDSU Extension offer numerous resources for working through this unusual time period.

SDSU Extension Main Page

Main Strengthening the Heartland

Brain Break Webinar

SDSU Mindful Eating Video

Of course, if we’re having difficulty overcoming feelings of stress, we need to talk with our primary care provider or other healthcare professional.

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