How you eat food is equally important as what you eat via /r/gratitude

I recently heard a doctor speak on Oprah Winfrey’s show about an old experiment conducted at Ohio University. They fed rabbits a high-cholesterol diet, but one group didn’t show the expected rise in cholesterol levels. The surprising factor was that this group was regularly petted and handled with affection by a researcher. The physical outcomes were different simply because of how they were treated.

The doctor explained that our emotional and mental state during meals deeply impacts how our body processes food. He even suggested not eating when you're upset, anxious, or in the company of people you don’t feel good around. It made me reflect on how we often ignore the emotional context of eating — rushing through meals, distracted, or stressed — without realizing it might be just as important as the food itself.

When I visited the Isha Yoga Center in India for a spiritual program, I observed how meals were served in silence, with chants and a small bow of gratitude before eating. It wasn’t just about rituals; it created a calm, respectful atmosphere around food. Almost every culture had some form of prayer or pause before meals, and I now feel it had more depth than just a gesture of thanks.

One quote that stayed with me from that experience:
“Food is not just nourishment – it is something that makes your life. We need to treat it with utmost love and reverence.”

We pay so much attention to diet and nutrition — macros, calories, ingredients — but very little to the experience of eating. Maybe it’s time we bring presence, stillness, or at least care back to the table.

Would love to know if anyone else has tried eating more mindfully or has similar thoughts?