Mindful Eating

In recent years it has become increasingly clear that eating mindfully has many health benefits. The Harvard Health Blog, for example, reported:

Paying more attention to what you eat, not less, could help keep you from overeating. Multitasking—like eating while watching television or working—and distracted or hurried eating can prompt you to eat more. Slowing down and savoring your food can help you control your intake.

Jews have always understood the power of mindful eating.

Judaism teaches that eating is not only a necessity of survival, nor merely a pleasurable experience; it is also a spiritual exercise.

Much of the discussion in this week’s parshah is about eating the Temple offerings. Some were eaten by the priests, while others were eaten by the person who brought the offering. In either case, the eating of the offering was part of what achieved the offering’s spiritual effect.