The foundation to healthy eating behaviors arises from a simple practice of mindfulness around food.

    Mindful eating begins with awareness of eating patterns, the environment we parents are cultivating and how we portray a positive relationship to food. We need to assess our thoughts while eating (Do we self-sabotage or offer compassion?), as well as the language we use when speaking about food (Do we call foods “treats” or “junk”?) and our behaviors (Do we eat the foods we restrict from our children?). Is food used as punishment or reward? Are mealtimes volatile or peaceful? Does eating cause angst or bring joy?

    Mindfulness is carving out time to envision ideal scenarios. Notice how your children’s actual behaviors are different from the ideal. Are your kids voluntarily chopping vegetables or setting the table? Write down words you would like to use when talking about food, especially foods that provoke challenges, such as certain snacks, desserts or vegetables. Use your senses when describing details of a lovely family meal, reflecting on environment, ritual, types of food, flavors and conversation.

    Mindfulness is identifying barriers. Are there too many processed, sugary foods in the pantry, too little time to prepare breakfast in the mornings or too little self-control when eating out? Do we eat when we’re bored, restless or feeling self-doubt? Barriers alter our experiences and thoughts toward food, cause feelings of guilt and patterns of mindless eating and steer us away from the present moment.

    Mindfulness for healthy habit change means deciding where to start. Make a list and identify which one aspect of mindful eating is the most important to you right now. Envision the ideal twice, in detail. Write it down. Recognize what you and your kids are doing differently. Write it down. Use your intuition about yourself and your family and, addressing barriers, come up with your own way to achieve this ideal scenario. Write it down. Consider setbacks—how will you respond if your plan goes awry? Write it down.

     My mindful eating resolution:

•    Goal: kids’ participation in dinner preparation.

•    Vision: son Avery happily chopping veggies; daughter Aylee eager to set the table; all of us engaged in calm conversation about our day.

•    Barriers: We are all tired in evenings; their help equates to extra effort for me.

•    Plan: Lay out cutting board, kid-friendly knife and vegetables before I begin other prep; tell Avery how much I appreciate his help; ensure that napkins, utensils and plates are accessible for Aylee to set the table.

•    Setbacks: Maintain calmness and show love.

    Your mindful eating practices will have layers and setbacks, but please don’t overcomplicate. Try one thing and, in doing so, practice nonjudgment—when we recognize that barriers, setbacks and adverse behaviors are normal, we are kinder to ourselves and to our children. Remember that each situation is impermanent—we can try again! Every meal is an opportunity to practice. Enjoy the moment; delight in the process.

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Jamie Truppi is a certified yoga teacher who is working on a master’s degree in nutrition and integrated health.