Dietitians Reveal their Own Mindful Eating Resolutions

By Petrina Smith
Tuesday, 06 January, 2015

A survey involving 175 accredited Practising Dietitians found almost 60 percent are planing to fine tune their eating habits be being more mindful in 2015.
The survey, undertaken by the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) also highlights the goals of adding more vegetables to their day (43%), and to plan more meals ahead of time (40%).
‘We all have some aspect of our usual eating habits that can be tweaked or improved, and this is different for everyone," said Professor Clare Collins, a spokesperson for DAA. "We asked dietitians to share the areas they’ll be focussing on in 2015 and some favourite nutrition tips they use with clients and in their own lives, so that this might inspire people to adopt their own healthy habits – changing a little at a time and thinking long term.’
Professor Collins said the dietitians are right on the money, with research now showing ‘mindful eating’ is a key part of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
‘Eating mindfully is a refreshing change from restrictive fad diets, which many people turn to in the New Year but can’t sustain over time. The aim of mindful eating is to learn to appreciate the food you’re eating – the texture, smell and taste, by making the most of each bite. And another key principle is being aware of the kilojoules you’re taking in.
‘By consistently eating in this way, it is much easier to stop after a couple of pieces of chocolate or a small slice of your favourite cake. You actually feel satisfied, which stops you from overeating,’ said Professor Collins.
Top five areas Accredited Practising Dietitians are focussing on in 2015[i]:

Practice mindful eating (59%)

Add more vegetables into the day (43%)

Plan more meals ahead of time (40%)

Increase intake of fish (37%)

Drink more water (31%).

DAA will soon launch Australia’s Healthy Weight Week (AHWW) (16-22 February) to help Australians achieve and maintain a healthy weight by making positive, sustainable changes to their eating habits.