Mindful eating may help improve well-being

Mindful eating — being present physically and emotionally to experience food as it is being eaten — has been shown in small studies to have some health benefits, such as stress reduction and normalized eating habits, experts told CNN. The goal is to be more in tune with your senses and thoughts while eating and not have distractions, said Teresa T. Fung, a professor at Simmons University in Boston. Lilian Cheung, director of health promotion and communication in the nutrition department at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said gratitude also is part of mindful eating as you consider where the food came from and express “gratitude for the environmental elements and individuals involved in the food’s journey to the plate.”