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Mindfulness

Mindful Eating Practice for Valentine’s Day

February 23, 2023 /

It’s Valentine’s Day! Children will be receiving candy in their boxes. One activity I love sharing with school-age children is Mindful eating. It’s a full sensory experience. You can try it with any piece of candy… I like the original Sweethearts. They are great as they melt in the mouth and are easy to chew. They also usually have some sort of sweet saying on them as well which is fun. Here is how the practice works:

First, have your child place the piece of candy in their hand. Have them recall who the candy is from. Guide them through this experience:

  • Think of the person who gave it to you in your heart and offer gratitude/thanks to them either out loud or silently.
  • Now use your sense of sight to notice the shape, color, and any other details the candy has.
    Close your eyes and feel the candy with your fingers. Can you feel the shape and texture? What else do you feel?
  • Now, bring the candy up to your ears in between your thumb and pointer finger and move it around. Do you hear anything? You might not.
  • Getting closer… bring it up to your nose. Take in the smell. Is it a familiar smell? Does it bring up a memory for you of something similar? Is it a pleasant or unpleasant smell?
    Are you excited to taste your candy? Notice how that feels. Is it hard to go slow with this experience?
  • Ok, now… place the piece of candy inside your mouth and just suck on it. Can you feel the shape and texture with your tongue? What is happening inside your mouth while you suck on it? Can you taste the flavor? Is it the same as how it smelled?
  • Lastly, start to take sloowwww bites… notice what’s happening in your mouth. Is the flavor getting stronger or weaker? Does it taste the same as when you were sucking on it? How about compared to when you smelled it? Are you chewing on one side or the other? Do you have the urge to chew fast? What thoughts are you having?
  • Once you’ve swallowed… can you still taste the piece of candy? What was the experience like for you? What did you notice? Share with a friend or adult.