While I started meditating , I was wondering how to incorporate conscious breathing along with a sense of contentment.
In a bid to try and find things to be grateful for or thankful for I once ended up staring at my plate of food.

I was sitting comfortably in the cafeteria at work with a meal that looked simple with things I wanted to eat that moment. It was one of the days the menu is to your liking.

It just struck me that I have sensed the same feeling before where I reach home and dinner is to your liking with dessert and it made me happy and the only thing I could utter was thank you.

It took me a while before I started eating but since then I have made it a point to eat alone and before jumping into my plate , just look at it for a few seconds and say thank you.

Thank you for the abundance in food , for the ability to eat and also the ability to whine abt food.

Catholics usually offer a grace before and after their meals where they thank god and pray for the food to be blessed.

It doesn’t have to be a religious pause, you can say a slight prayer or just say thank you and breathe slowly.

If you choose to try it, i am sure you ll find it relaxing and might enjoy the experience to make it a habit or you might genuinely feel happy and humbled by the abundance of food you are surrounded by considering the fact that people are dying of hunger and have reduced or no access to clean water. You might also experience a calming effect like with meditation.

PS: if you are a fan of the fast furious franchise , vin diesel is always saying thank you before eating. Maybe there is a reason.