We all eat! This is a fun one to try with kids. Try it for one meal a day for a week and see how it goes. Don't give up if they won't participate at first. Be patient.
Mindful eating can be done in many different ways, and below is a list of prompts to use before, during and after eating. For foster families, be mindful of any food-related stress that you'll want to be prepared for. Looking at the color and texture of food can be a good start to avoid topics related to food insecurity. However, if you have a little extra time, talking about where food comes from and how their tummies feel is a good way for a child to open up about their fears, giving you space to just listen and say "I understand" and "I am so thankful you're sharing your feelings with me."
Keep in mind, there is nothing to fix here. This is simply observation. There are no right or wrong answers.
Food can be one of the most powerful things to bring us into the moment. Food is also one of the things we tend to do while doing other things. Try to JUST EAT.
Look at the food. Describe color, texture, size
Smell the food. Describe what it smells like.
Where did the food come from? Was it grown on a farm? Who grew it? Who harvested it? How did it get to the store or restaurant?
Is it heavy or light? If appropriate, touch it. Is it smooth, rough, wrinkly?
Take one bite. Think about how it feels in your mouth. Chew it slowly, then swallow
How does it make your tummy feel? Do you want to take another bite?
After eating it: how does your tummy feel? Do you feel more full? If you still feel hungry, what does that mean?
Do you hear any sounds in your tummy? Did you burp? Did you fart? Why?
Commentaires