We’ve all heard about mindful eating. Slow down. Pay attention. Eat when you’re hungry. Stop when you’re full. It sounds simple—and in many ways, it is. But for anyone who’s struggled with eating habits or weight issues, you know it’s not always that easy.
Mindful eating can help you become more aware of your body’s signals and the emotions that drive you to eat. That’s a good thing. But if you’ve ever found yourself eating something you knew you didn’t really want or need—even as you noticed it happening—you’ve probably learned that awareness alone doesn’t always change behavior.
That’s because we often eat for reasons that go beyond hunger:
- To soothe stress or anxiety
- Out of habit or boredom
- Because food is available, comforting, or just there
Mindfulness can help us see these patterns more clearly. But many people still need structure and strategy to shift them.
Mindful + Moderate
In my work, I talk about the importance of combining mindfulness with what I call intelligent restraint, otherwise known as “moderation”—a flexible, thoughtful approach to eating that includes planning, goal setting, and problem-solving.
This doesn’t mean rigid rules or diets. It means knowing what matters to you, what works for your body and your life, and having a strategy to guide your choices when motivation dips or cravings hit.
Sometimes you need to plan ahead. Sometimes you need to pause and ask, “What’s really going on here?”And sometimes you need both.
The Bigger Picture
True mindfulness—what long-term meditators describe as equanimity—is a deep skill that helps you stay calm and grounded even when urges or uncomfortable emotions arise. But that kind of steadiness usually takes time to develop. Most people don’t get there in an 8-week course or by doing a few breathing exercises. In the meantime, you’re still vulnerable to old cues and routines.
That’s where strategy comes in. Not as a replacement for mindfulness, but as a support system. A bridge between good intentions and consistent action.
A Compassionate, Real-World Approach
If you’ve tried mindfulness and found it helpful but incomplete, you’re not doing it wrong. You’re just noticing what a lot of people experience.
Lasting change usually requires both insight and structure, awareness and direction. My work focuses on helping people build both—at a pace that feels realistic, supportive, and aligned with who they are.
–Stephen Stotland, Ph.D.
Let’s Connect
If this approach resonates with you, I’d be happy to talk.