Holiday Mindful Eating with Brother Phap Luu

The practice of mindful eating is an invitation to savor our food, enjoy our meals, and come home to the present moment. Whether you are sharing a festive table with family, joining a community potluck, or enjoying a quiet cup of tea, each bite or sip can be an opportunity to cultivate peace, gratitude, and compassion—for ourselves, each other, and our planet.

As our gift to you, please enjoy this short video from our beloved Brother Phap Luu that includes the basics of the sacred practice of mindful eating and a very special guided meditation practice to accompany the beginning of meals or drinks.

Here are the corresponding words of this meditation for you to practice and repeat so that you can incorporate this meditation into your daily life.

With the first mouthful, I offer joy to someone
With the second mouthful, I relieve someone’s suffering
With the third mouthful, I maintain a heart of joy
With the fourth mouthful, I practice inclusiveness.

May this season be a time to truly taste our lives—to honor the many beings and conditions that make each meal possible, and to nourish not only our bodies, but also our joy, our clarity, and our love.

With warm wishes for a peaceful and mindful holiday season,
Thich Nhat Hanh Center for Mindfulness in Public Health

Learn more about the Center and the practice of mindful eating: https://www.mindfulpublichealth.org/