Which of these best describes your typical meal:

You eat standing up, working at your desk or while running around the kitchen trying to make sure everyone else has everything they need. Mealtime is stressful, hectic and not a lot of fun.

You eat at a beautifully set table, have plenty of time to enjoy your meal and the company of the people you're eating with, and savor the tastes and the atmosphere of mealtime.

If you're like me, the first is your typical meal, and the second happens only when the stars align, there's no full moon, you're on vacation and your kids are off at camp. But it doesn't have to be this way! Eating mindfully, more like the second scenario, can actually help us lose weight, because we're paying more attention to what and why we're eating.

What is mindful eating?

Mindful eating, according to The Center for Mindful Eating (TCME) is choosing to eat food that is pleasing, nourishing and involves all your senses. That counts out going through the fast food drive-thru with a car full of smelly, sweaty soccer players!

Mindful eating also acknowledges our individual feelings about food, both positive and negative. I have really good memories of picking, cleaning and eating fresh strawberries with my family that I remember with a smile every time strawberry season rolls around. The memories and the act of savoring those memories make eating strawberries a delight.