Lessons from a dog
I used to think our dog Queenie had food issues, so I decided to observe her closely to see if I could learn something from her behaviour. I thought I’d share it with you (especially because she’s the cutest dog on the planet and I’m besotted with her).
These are her behaviours:
- she only eats when she’s hungry, unless it’s something she LOVES! If she’s lucky enough to get the tasty meaty scraps from a dinner party, she will gorge herself;
- if she’s hungry and she doesn’t like the food, she won’t eat it unless she’s FAMISHED;
- she picks out the yummy stuff first, and if she’s really hungry, she’ll eat the rest (but she has to be really hungry);
- she only eats the kibbles as a last resort (like we’re away on holiday and she’s being looked after by a vegetarian);
- she has to have something ‘nice’ in her bowl, otherwise she won’t eat it – seriously – I tested her this week – it sat there for 2 days before she ate it; and then she had ‘just enough’ – which was actually a tiny amount (ok, she is a tiny dog);
- she circles her food before she eats anything – it’s almost as though she’s suspicious of it – so she approaches it cautiously
- she only eats when she’s relaxed; if I’m not home, she won’t eat, unless I’m not home for several days, and then she eats out of sheer self preservation;
- if she’s going to eat it, she’ll gobble it down really quickly
So, what have I learned from Queenie that applies to mindful eating for humans?
- eat when you’re hungry;
- eat foods you love!
- if some foods seem an utter chore to eat, don’t eat them unless there really is no other option;
- have something that you truly love at every meal – whether it’s strictly healthy or not, food is also there to be enjoyed;
- it’s ok if you overeat occasionally, especially if it’s something completely fabulous (like chicken cartilage, skin, the ‘parson’s nose’!)
- most of the time, aim to eat just enough to satisfy you
- be discerning about what you will eat
- eat when you’re relaxed; (if you’re stressed and you’re hungry, take 3 long deep slow breaths before you eat);
Some of her behaviours aren’t particularly helpful for mindful human eaters, so instead:
- take your time while you eat! Chew, don’t just swallow
- don’t wait till you’re famished!
Hi, I'm Vania.
I'm passionate about helping you break free from the exhausting cycle of yo-yo dieting, body shame, overeating, bingeing, and emotional eating.
For decades, I was at war with my body and food. It wasn't until I found an approach which didn't involve strict rules, diets and a focus on weight, that my relationship with food and my body transformed into one of ease and peace. There’s a lightness in living when food no longer holds power over your thoughts. If you're seeking that kind of freedom — where food becomes simple and life feels full — I’d love to walk that journey with you.
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