Things I Notice While I Eat
Verse & Reflection
I’ve been experimenting with something that feels both new and ancient: truly being present with my food. It sounds simple, but if you’ve tried it, you know how hard it can be to focus solely on the experience of eating. No distractions, no screens, no rush—just me, my meal, and the sensations that come with it. It’s tougher than I imagined!
This practice of mindful eating has opened up a flood of questions for me, questions that seem to reach far beyond the dinner table:
Why do we disconnect from our bodies and engage our minds when we eat?
What do animals experience during their mealtime, and what can we learn from them?
How did we evolve to approach eating with our heads and hearts, rather than just our bodies?
When did this shift occur, from eating as survival to eating as a tangled web of emotions and habits?
How do modern societal dynamics shape the way we relate to food, and what emotional baggage do we carry into each meal?
As these questions bounced around my mind, I turned to my usual refuge—research and reflection. I started digging into the science and philosophy of eating, the intersection between our primal instincts and our modern-day rituals. The result of that exploration took shape in the poem below, which is a blend of my thoughts, my findings, and my attempt to understand why something as fundamental as eating has become so complicated for so many of us.
Our relationship with food has evolved from mere survival to something woven into the fabric of society, culture, and our personal narratives. For early humans, food wasn’t just fuel; it was comfort, a source of joy, a binding thread that connected communities. Now, for many of us, eating has become rushed, detached, and burdened by diet culture, stress, and convenience. We’ve shifted from listening to our bodies to listening to outside voices telling us how, when, and what to eat.
But maybe there’s a way back—a way to reclaim that sense of presence and connection with our food. A way to return to our bodies, to the wisdom they hold, and to the simple, grounding act of being fully in the moment.
This poem is a window into my journey of rediscovering that connection. It’s my attempt to sit with these questions, to explore them through words, and to find my way back to that primal, unfiltered relationship with eating. I hope it resonates with you and perhaps inspires you to explore your own dance between mind and body when it comes to food.
Poem
(as I write this while I eat).
My mind is racing,
I want it to end.
I'm not chewing fully,
I just want to swallow.
I'm tempted to grab my phone.
I don't love the taste, but I just want to get through it.
I feel tense.
Why do I leave my body and escape to my mind when I eat?
Why do so many struggle with food?
These are questions I am pondering,
While attempting to be present with my food.
As always,
I look to the animals,
To find ourselves.
Animals,
Are calm in the quiet of their feast,
Unless danger is near.
Then they tense, defensive,
Poised for fight or flight,
Digestion stilled in the shadow of survival.
Food, at its core, is survival,
Pure energy.
But for us,
It wove itself into emotion,
Into the fabric of society,
And the weight of culture.
For early humans,
Food was more than fuel—
It was comfort,
A reward,
Dopamine, serotonin,
The body’s promise of survival in hard times.
We have grown with food,
Beyond mere sustenance.
It shapes our culture,
Our sense of well-being,
Tethering us to each other—
Not just for survival,
But for the sweetness of connection.
Yet many of us eat alone,
At desks,
In cars
(hello, me).
We leave our bodies
And retreat to our minds.
Busy,
Distracted,
Disconnected from natural hunger cues.
We are flooded,
Drowned in diet rules,
Lured by the pull of food marketing,
Trapped in habits we didn’t choose.
We listen to voices outside ourselves,
Forgetting the quiet wisdom
Of our bodies.
No longer body-centered,
But mind-driven,
Convenience-driven,
Time-driven.
Ah,
I see it now.
But I long to return—
Back to the body’s knowing,
Back to the wild,
To my animal self.
So, I’ll put down the phone.
Take a breath.
Chew until it disintegrates.
And remember—
My body,
And its magnificence,
With each chew,
Each sensation.
Again,
And again.
Amen.
Reflection
As I journey through this practice of mindful eating, I’m reminded that it’s less about perfection and more about presence. It’s about choosing to slow down, even in a world that urges us to speed up. It’s about reconnecting with the simple act of nourishing ourselves, finding gratitude in each bite, and listening to the wisdom of our bodies.
If this poem or these reflections sparked something in you, I invite you to join me. Let’s try, even just once a day, to pause and be truly present with our food. To chew slowly, savor intentionally, and to let go of the rush and distraction that often fill our meals.
Let’s support each other in this journey. Share your thoughts, your own experiences, or even the challenges you face when trying to be more mindful with your meals. I believe that through these shared stories, we can begin to reclaim a deeper, more grounded relationship with the food that sustains us.
Together, let’s bring our focus back to the body’s wisdom, again and again. And in that simple act, we may just find the connection we’ve been craving all along.
Amen.
All my love,
B
Free Introductory Call!
Embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and healing with my integrative somatic coaching and yoga therapy. As a certified yoga instructor and integrative somatic coach, I offer a safe, supportive space where traditional yoga practices blend with guided techniques to foster personal growth and holistic transformation. Whether you're facing physical pain, emotional challenges, or simply seeking overall wellness, my personalized approach helps you reconnect with your body and mind, guiding you toward a more balanced, vibrant life.
Start your journey today with a free 30-minute introductory call to discuss your unique needs.