Ayurveda and the Art of Eating Consciously ~ Healthy Eating Guideline #1: Eat in a Beautiful and Peaceful Environment

"To avoid the accumulation of ama (toxins) in the body, food must be digested well. There are ten general guidelines that, if followed, will help you to digest your food well. In doing so most of the symptoms of poor digestion such as gas, bloating, burning and heaviness after eating will disappear. So too will the coating on your tongue. The benefits extend to the mind as well and following these ten guidelines leads to greater feelings of calm and peace. And, if you are trying to lose weight, regardless of what you eat, if you follow these guidelines, you will be successful."
Healthy Eating Guideline #1: Take Food in a Peaceful and Beautiful Environment.

"Take a look at the environment that you eat your food in. Is it a calm and peaceful place? Often it is not. Many people eat on the run, sometimes not even taking the time to sit down, much less care about the environment. Oftentimes, people eat in cluttered dining areas, noisy cafeterias under bright fluorescent lights, in the car on the way to work, or while engaged in conflict or debate. These environments make it nearly impossible to focus on the foods we are eating and how our body feels as it receives the food. When the environment is cluttered or active, the mind becomes cluttered and active making it difficult to focus. Agitation and distraction make it very difficult to control your eating habits.
If we consider that the environment where we are eating is Sacred, what can we do to sanctify it? Consider what type of music you are listening to while dining. Does it support a calm presence or is it distracting? What are you looking at while you eat? Are you watching television, reading or looking at a computer screen? Ask yourself, "is this supporting being calm and peaceful?" Try the exercise below and see if you can honor the sacred while eating?
Exercise