Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful Relationship with Food (Includes CD) Paperback – February 3, 2009

I came upon this book accidentally in the new cook book section at the Carnegie library. I took a glance and the contents seemed interesting. So on my driving home, I listened to the guided mindfulness exercises CD that came with the book. This was not what I expected--my way home felt like a transformed journey to self discovery: the exercisers were simple, practical; the voice soothing; the effect, however, was profound. I was intrigued by how was it possible that our body would know the foods that we need at a particular point in time? I eagerly plunged into the book and read all about the seven kinds of hungers. I was very pleased for the insight I gained from the reading. This book inspires. The writing is lucid and thoughtful.

I have been honored to have Dr. Bays as a Zen teacher for many years and this book is a stellar example of how gifted she and others in the Zen community have become. Our American relationship to food seems to have been more food-as-fuel than any particular enjoyment. No surprise that fast food is so popular.I have used this book's methods in my own life and have far better health and considerable weight loss in my mid-60's. Many of the ways to engage the senses in this book ask us to slow down and truly enjoy what we are eating.I've taught several classes using this book and examples of how to eat more joyfully. Response nearly always is "oh, I never imagined food could be this good".

Bays is a medical doctor and a meditation teacher. The combination makes for a fine book. She shares scientific data and yet writes in a meditative style. Since eating is such a fundamental part of our living, bringing mindfulness to this daily function on average of three times a day affects your life generally. In Bays' words: "Awareness is the key. Our desire to be awake, to see clearly how our blind spots make us and others suffer, has to be stronger than our desire to live on automatic pilot. It's not a simple, once-made-always-kept decision. It's a decision we will face again and again." Bays doesn't present diets but instead gives simple practices which awaken awareness to the various hungers we experience (eye, nose, mouth, stomach, cellular, mind and heart), and to our particular habits and patterns with food. Then she presents guidelines for staying awake to our eating. These all allow needed change to take place naturally. I have found this book to be extremely helpful and I highly recommend it.

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I went through a diet program and profited by losing about fifty pounds.I learned quite a bit in the program (HMR, if you're interested). Many good books were mentioned:Ones on eating stuff with lots of hidden water that fill you up or weary your jaws or trick you visually.Ones where you can choose to eat all of this (lots) or eat this (tiny-portion with a stratospheric calorie count).Mindful Eating offers ideas that range from the humorous to the insightful.My deep love of the terse, laconic, brief prompt me to want to stop here..but afterthoughts need be addressed:First, I noticed that one of the reviewers dismissed Mindful Eating as too New Age for her tastes. The label fits (and for her the judgment stands) but if you are not put off by the title, the book merits a read.Second if you like the idea of being mindful in many ways get Thich Nhat Hanh's Present Moment, Wonderful Moment where he sketches out forty-seven activities we do everyday that can be made mindful.Third, the only activity not mentioned in Mindful Eating is eating with other human beings and talking to them which would technically be non-mindful but which would force us to eat more slowly and thus give our guts a chance tell our brains we are full.

I really enjoyed the book for the perspective it provided. The book was entertaining, engaging, and broadened my awareness when it came to my own eating habits. However, I do have to warn for anyone that has struggled with a restrictive eating disorder needs to take much of what is said with a grain of salt. The book still is geared toward's restriction, and some of the exercises in another context would look very similar to the habits practiced by those with restrictive eating disorders.The "less is more" tone is likely fitting given the majority of readers are likely having trouble with over consumption as opposed to under, but some of the information contained could be taken as suggestions to further restrict (which I am sure was not Dr. Chozen Bay's intention).Again - a great read for all, but be mindful and aware when applying the suggestions to your own habits.

This book changed the way I think and feel about food in general. Had I known about this book years ago, the constant yo-yo dieting, and years of following "fad" diets (Atkins, South Beach, Vegan...) would not have consumed me. I plan on giving this book as a gift to all my friends who struggle with food addiction. This is NOT a diet book, but reading it has helped me to lose over 40 pounds. When I feel like I am falling off track of "paying attention" while I am eating, I read the book again. I have read it 3 times, and will continue to refer back to it forever. Along with the book, I meet with a Mindfulness Meditation group every week, and continue to meditate on my own everyday.

I find it difficult to rate this book .She's a great writer and knows her subject, but when I tried to read it from beginning to end, I was bored and couldn't make it through. On the other hand, there are some invaluable gems in this book. Things that have changed my way at looking at food, and I found myself skimming and highlighting some important passages. I'd recommend it on that alone.