December Mindful Eating

December 2 2025

With the “Silly Season” upon us and end-of-year parties taking place, the variety and amount of foods can be overwhelming, and not all of them are healthy.

Here are some tips for mindful eating over the end-of-year period:

Mindful eating is about paying full attention to our food and the way it makes our body feel. This means focusing on the taste, smell, texture, temperature and colour of your food rather than finishing a meal or packet of chips without even tasting it. It’s also about listening and responding to our internal hunger and fullness signals.

There’s scientific research showing that eating in a mindless, inattentive way can mean eating more than our body needs to feel full. Practising mindful eating can help us enjoy a more satisfying and healthy relationship with food and can reduce overeating.

Here’s how to get started:

  • Remove distractions – that means turning off the television and putting away your phone.
  • Take a moment to check in and see how hungry you feel using the scale below.
  • Eat like you’re at a fancy restaurant. Take note of the way the food is presented, the enticing aromas, the texture and the flavours.
  • Notice how your hunger level changes as you eat.
  • Practice makes perfect! Like any skill, you’ll need to do it a few times before it starts to come naturally.

The holiday season is a time for enjoyment! Be present when eating by paying attention to the colour, smell, texture, flavour & temperature of the food. Remove distractions when eating (i.e., TV, phone, laptop) & put your cutlery down between each bite to slow you down!

Keep everything in perspective. Allow yourself those few indulgences that you know you will enjoy.

A few days of eating & drinking will make very LITTLE difference to your health & weight in the long run. Our health is made up of more than just our diet. This includes spending time with loved ones & enjoying Christmas for all it is!

 

If you feel like you need help with cravings and weight management at any time of the year, book in to speak to your GP about weight management. 

Start a food diary and monitor what your intake is over 3 days, and make an appointment to see a dietician.

 

 

Sources:

https://livelighter.com.au/living-well/mindful-eating
https://www.performdietetics.com.au/tips-for-healthy-mindful-eating-over-the-holidays/