Reinventing the Meal: How Mindfulness Can Help You Slow Down, Savor the Moment, and Reconnect with the Ritual of Eating

(Paperback)

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In Reinventing the Meal, renowned psychologist Pavel Somov presents readers with a plan for mindfully reconnecting with the comforting rituals involved in preparing and enjoying food. This revolutionary way of eating offers readers daily opportunities for feeling more relaxed and connected with their bodies without extensive meditation practice. Chapter by chapter, this guide helps readers reinvent their relationship to food and eventually see each meditative mealtime as an opportunity to reconnect with the body, the mind, and the world at large. Page 7 of 83 TIP SHEET TIP SHEET Key Selling Points: A research study found that mindful eatersthat is, those who eat with awareness of why they are eating so that they can stop when they become fullweighed less than the control group (Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2009). Pavel Somov is a renowned psychologist who blogs regularly on Huffington Post, Red Room, Psych Central, Intent, and other websites. He is author of Eating the Moment (ISBN: 978 1 57224 543 3). This book offers intriguing new exercises, rituals, and meditations rooted in Buddhist traditions that can help readers get the most out of their meals. Readers learn to eat nine desserts a day (by anticipating and savoring every meal like dessert), practice ancient Oryoki eating traditions, and engage in Ahimsa no harm eating by choosing food that is grown in ways that are respectful of people, animals, and the environment. Description: Everyone wants to feel more relaxed and connected with their bodies, but how And more importantly, when Many people's busy schedules leave little time for lengthy meditation practices and when life is most stressful and meditation most needed, many of us dispense with quiet time first. Reinventing the Meal offers a new way to get mindful moments inby centering these important and beneficial practices around mealtimes. At least three times a day, readers can practice the art of becoming present, mindful, and relaxed. This three course approach introduces strategies for practicing relaxation and breathing, moving forward into meditation techniques, and, finally, learning to eat mindfully. The book offers intriguing exercises, rituals, and meditations rooted in ancient and modern traditions that make mindful eating appealing and possible for anyone. The book also brings global awareness to eating practices and encourages readers to consider the source of their food. Author Bio: Pavel G. Somov, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Pittsburgh, PA. He is author of Eating the Moment, Present Perfect, and The Lotus Effect. Visit his website at www.eatingthemoment.com. Foreword writer Donald Altman, MA, LPC, is vice president of The Center for Mindful Eating and author of One Minute Mindfulness and Meal By Meal.

Reviews

"Just as food breaks down to give us a savory experience and fuel us, Reinventing the Meal breaks down the art and science of mindful eating to teach us how to enjoy and get what we need from food. It's a guide to using positive life precepts to enrich each and every dining experience from first whiff to final swallow."

--Karen R. Koenig, LCSW, MEd, is the author of four books on eating, including The Food and Feelings Workbook

"Pavel Somov brings together mindfulness practices and wisdom from Eastern traditions with scientific insights to thoughtfully challenge and inspire the reader to higher consciousness, all within the arena of the most basic of human activities--eating. He delivers a bounty of food for thought that compellingly assists us in re-imagining ourselves, as well as the meal. In an era of fast-food and fast-paced living, Reinventing the Meal offers a well-needed path toward health, serenity, and a meaningful connection to life."

--Jeffrey Weise, PhD, psychologist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders with a private practice in Pittsburgh, PA

"For years when I've talked to friends about my mindfulness practice, I've paraphrased a line of Thich Nhat Hanh's: 'You can eat the tangerine like this, says the Buddhist monk nonchalantly. Or, he suggests, enunciating with care, you can eat the tangerine like this.' How satisfying to find a whole book that shows me the sublime depth of eating. Reinventing the Meal is a mindful pleasure--a dessert from start to finish, and a delicious reminder of the power of awareness."

--Stefanie Marlis, author of rife, fine, cloudlife, and other poetry collections

Author Bio

Donald Altman, is vice president of The Center for Mindful Eating and author of One-Minute Mindfulness and Meal By Meal.