At Salus Heart and Wellness, we encourage you to practice mindful living with focused awareness and special attention to your various daily activities. Mindful dining is the art of paying attention to every aspect of the process of eating. It is through the practice of mindful dining that one can most fully appreciate the beauty, balance and healthfulness of the food we eat. Salus Heart and Wellness incorporates mindful dining into each meal so that you benefit from practicing the techniques both during your stay and once you are back home.

Guidelines for dining mindfully:

	Use all your senses. Notice the colors, textures, aromas of your food, not only the taste. Observe the subtleties that are the hallmark of freshly prepared foods.
	Slow down. Not only does slowing the pace of dining boost your ability to notice and enjoy, but it aids in digestion and prevents you from “over-dining.”
	Observe the entire process. Dining is more than consuming food. Be aware of all the actions it takes to plate, serve, cut and otherwise bring food to your mouth. Notice the sensations of chewing and swallowing and the satisfying awareness of bringing important nutrients into your body.
	Notice your thoughts. When you’re thinking of what you have to do next or what you might have done before, you are not “in the moment” and not fully aware of the food you might be enjoying. When you find your mind wandering, take a relaxing breath and gently return to your observations of the meal at hand.
	Avoid distractions. Multi-tasking does not enhance the enjoyment of food. Turn off the television, keep music low and enjoy relaxing conversation.
	Share your observations. Sharing your enjoyment of the meal with your companions not only reinforces your commitment to dine mindfully but it will show you how people experience even “everyday” activities in such different and individual ways.
	Be thankful. We take for granted how lucky we are to have access to so many types of foods in such abundance. The vast majority of people on this earth are not so fortunate.