Mindful Eating versus Intuitive Eating--What's the Difference?
Q. The phrases "intuitive eating," "mindful eating," and"normal eating" seem to be used interchangeably on the internet. I know that you and Elyse cameup with the concept of intuitive eating. What is your take on all of thedifferent phrases? Do they all represent the same thing?
A. In 1990, JonKabat-Zinn published his best-selling Full Castrophe Living, which describeshow to live mindfully. He included a couple of pages on mindful eating, with anactivity on how to eat a raisin using a mindfulness approach. (I am a big fan of his work, but I was not introducedto it until about 7 years ago!)
Mindful eating is compatible with Intuitive Eating, and it is a process of paying attention (on purpose), to your actual eating experience,without judgment.While Intuitive Eating, includes mindfulness (we call itconscious eating)-- I consider Intuitive Eating a broader philosophy, whichincludes physical activity for the sake of feeling good, using nutritioninformation without judgment, and respecting your body, regardless of how youfeel about its shape.In a nutshell, normal eating means eating is flexible-it'sa way of eating that varies according to your hunger, schedule andsatisfaction.https://ellynsatter.com/showArticle.jsp?id=268
For those who struggle with their eating, both mindfuleating and Intuitive Eating can help facilitate normal eating.
Resources:
1. The Center for Mindful Eating website:http://www.tcme.org/
2. Intuitive Eating website: www.IntuitiveEating.org
3. Jon Kabat-Zinn. Full Catastrophe Living.(1990). Delta:NY,NY.
