Jan Chozen Bays

As a consequence of the American search for the perfect healthy diet, we have developed a love-hate relationship with food. Confusion reigns about what foods we are to eat and which we are to avoid. Our reliance on scientific evidence has simply added to the confusion. We can’t even agree if we are naturally carnivore, omnivore, or herbivore.

"Mindful Eating," written by physician and Zen teacher Jan Chozen Bays, provides a way back to sane eating. Bays does not prescribe what we are to eat show more but provides gentle guidance about how to eat. This book provides numerous exercises to help us be present to ourselves and our food.

Bays teaches us to become aware of our seven forms of hunger—eye, nose, mouth, stomach, cellular, mind, and heart hungers. Each hunger satisfies legitimate needs. Bays instructs us with understanding and humor on how to recognize and satisfy each hunger. Her approach is a return to an intimate and joyful relationship with food. Stop dieting. Read this book and discover how to physically, mentally, and spiritually relate with food and return to sane eating. show less

I'd round my rating up to 3.5 if possible. This is a solid book which contains a lot of wisdom, but it didn't wow me.

As I noted in one of my general updates, author Bays' definition of vow has more in common with a life mission statement. In some ways this makes the idea of a "vowed life" more accessible, since it follows that the ultimate vow is something inherent within us, not something we need to force ourselves to take up. At the same time, she points out the need for discernment in show more determining this vow, because many people take "reactive vows" -- vows which are the result of external conditions that we resist or embrace rather than finding our own true centers.

She also points out the importance of distinguishing vows from "means" -- or tactics. She would say, for example, that "I vow to pray every day," is less of a vow than a means of keeping the actual vow of "I will deepen my spiritual life." She also generously points out that our vows evolve over time, and that sometimes breaking vows -- or "muddying" them -- can be part of the process of ongoing reflection and maturation.

The book is illustrated with many examples of different kinds of vows drawn from legend, history, the experience of the author and those she has met. show less

Why not? I seem to have lost interest in the kitchen, and in foods, and have gained so much weight, I'm miserable. So, I thought maybe a book in this subject might be in order and would help me to refocus my attention on cooking again for my health. I've always been about simplifying my life and living more mindfully. This book takes it to a whole new level. It is really about learning to love and to trust yourself. Now, I didn't work my way through the exercises, but I am now made more show more aware of how we should approach food. She provides a lot of insight into personal struggles and easy step by step ways to slowly incorporate some good practices into your life. It is always a good thing to be grateful for the process, and the ways food comes to us. It is always good to be grateful for many things in life, which we usually take for granted.

This author explains the first step is to learn to listen to your body, your heart, and your mind when eating or drinking anything. There are 9 different kinds of hunger...eyes, touch, ears, nose, mouth, stomach, cells, mind, and heart...and she goes into explaining how to determine which is wanting to be fed. Once you read her explanations of each, you will understand, and she tells you how to go about learning to detect which one is calling out for food so you can make wiser choices.

She's not about deprivation. Mindful substitutions are better. Go the middle way with food. It's a wobbly road. Eat the occasional sweet with mindfulness, then abstain from a certain food for just a while for you to feel the effects. Then, go ahead and eat it again, but in a mindful manner. Learn to eat until "satisfied", not uncomfortable-stuffed-full.

Although not mentioned, it seems a journal might be helpful in learning to eat mindfully and learning to discern which hunger is being fed. She suggests some basic Zen meditation to clear your mind and get to the bottom of your spirituality with food and body. After you've figured out which hunger you are feeding, then begin eating with your mind on the food itself (the aromas, the colors, the shapes, the flavors, the feel, swallowing, etc...) at a clean table and in a quiet environment, focusing on the food. This is the meaning of being in the present, and this is eating mindfully. You will enjoy your food more and feel grateful for it.

To break old habits, whether eating patterns or any other bad habits (thoughts about someone, actions, etc..), you STOP! Literally, stop, be aware and don't move! Don't move your mouth or your body! Then make your choice of action with a clear head.

An overabundance of food has decreased our gratitude towards food. We have to remember that health and life are temporary gifts. When we feel our body has betrayed us with sickness (irritable bowel syndrome, food sensitivities, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, weight gain, etc...), those parts of the body need extra help and extra kindness, not extra criticism, and feed the cells what they need. This is considered cell hunger, one of the 9 hungers. We also need to consider our gut microbiome community of beneficial bacteria and be sure to feed it probiotic (fermented foods) and prebiotics (plant fibers) if we want to remain healthy. It's good reading on this subject from page 147 to 150. She talks of the association between junk foods and an altered gut microbiome and diseases.

Parents of young children and teenagers might really enjoy Chapter 6, "Mindful Eating with Children". For smaller children, the parents are responsible for what, when and where (what foods are served...variety of healthy foods...and when and where they are served). The child should be responsible for which food to eat and how much to eat...preferrably with his hands to experience the feel of food, one of the 9 hungers. The child will learn to eat the amount needed, and to eat what the parents eat or cook. She describes a few fun exercises to play with young kids to help them along with discerning the 9 features of hunger as they are growing up.

For helping young teenagers, she lists 8 exercises, that are really awesome ideas, to get them thinking mindfully of food. I have 10 grandkids now that I think would enjoy every one of these exercises. This gives me something to think about for their next sleepover.

The last chapter, page 179, is a summary of tips for mindful eating that might be worth printing out and reviewing on occasion when you feel like you need a refresher. I will probably reread this book a little slower and go through the exercises a little later on. I have never tried meditation, but as I’m reading more and more on the subject, it has piqued my interest. show less

I found out about this book on the Early Reviewer list and knew I had to have it. Unfortunately I wasn't selected to receive an advanced copy, but I was able to get it from my library upon its release. This book is very well written and comes to me at the exact right moment in my life when my past 4 years of changing my life and body from the outside (losing over 60 pounds) meets my new challenge of changing my life and body from the inside through self exploration and meditation. I highly show more recommend this book to anyone who is ready to come to peace with the diet/binge merry-go-round and truly understand what it is that they are hungry for. The accompanying CD makes the exercises/mediations much easier and accessible the author has thought of everything to make anyone successful if they are simply ready to take the first step in their journey. show less