ABSTRACT
The Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training program helps people engage a sense of flexible balance in relation to their eating and food, and themselves. It does this by cultivating both “inner wisdom” and “outer wisdom”. Inner wisdom entails a greater awareness of physical hunger, fullness and taste, along with more awareness of non-nutritive triggers for eating. “Outer wisdom” means making more balanced use of nutritional information, attuned to one’s personal needs and preferences. Recognizing the differences between physical hunger and all the other triggers for eating is particularly challenging. Many individuals confuse simply wanting some food with physical need; others, often from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds, have been taught to avoid even mild levels of hunger. Mindful eating involves not only knowing when to start eating, but also knowing when to stop. Self-acceptance and loving kindness practices, including a forgiveness meditation and a values practice, are woven into the program.
