"The cute little monkey, through this simple act of eating, asked nothing of the world. He just absorbed the moment, by his mindful eating!"" 🐒💚💚💚

A Happy Monkey Feast

A Little Zen Master in Training | Mindful Eating vs Binge Eating

#lifelessonsfrommonkeys | #intothewildwithrufus

#birdnov2025

A few days ago, we were passing through the deep forests, when we gently stopped our vehicle on sensing some little movement deep into the trees. To our sweet surprise, we saw a pair of beautiful eyes, deep into the thickets, through the tangled rays of sunlight!

A lone, lovely little monkey was seated peacefully in quiet contemplation.

He had that poise on him, that doubled up with subtle grace, with those innocent, solemn eyes. He had found his perfect bounty 😊 two ripe, sun-warmed fruits!

There was no hurry, no frantic scramble in any way! Only a deep, satisfying calm focus. 😊

The first bite was almost meditative – like a pretty little Zen master in training! 😊 Each chew was slow, steady and thorough, savouring the aura of nature’s delight in all its pristine sweetness.

[You may want to check out that cute monkey video, on our Wildlife Vlog HERE ]

Well, this does teach us a lot of life lessons, ain’t it?

The cute little monkey, through this simple act of eating, asked nothing of the world. He just absorbed the moment, by his mindful eating! – living the moment while eating the fruit!

So What Does Mindful Eating Mean? What Does Binge Eating Mean?

Sarah Brooks, in her lovely book on the subject, has some interesting insights for us!  

Here goes - 

To some, mindful eating is the act of being fully aware of and in control of what they eat. This means that they pay every attention to the foods they eat and are therefore able to notice and enjoy every bite they take.

It also means being aware of the foods’ effects on the body, and therefore having the intention of taking care of oneself.

After all, no one would mindfully eat something if there is a known negative effect on the self.

To this respect, mindful eating builds a peaceful relationship with the body where the body’s needs and sometimes even the wants, are satisfied.

It becomes an act of wisdom and of full consciousness as it chooses what is natural and healthy. Binge Eating On the other end of the spectrum is what is known as binge eating. This is the earlier form of eating that was discussed as being mindless, and even sometimes taken to an extreme level.

Binge eating is defined as disordered eating wherein the act is uncontrollable. This leads to eating enormous amounts of food even after the individual has had the feeling of a full stomach.

Most people who suffer from binge eating try to hide it from friends and family, leading them to isolate themselves in many instances.

The benefits of mindful eating range farther from physical satisfaction, but it is perhaps one of the most important ones. 

When people learn to be mindful of what they eat, they gain more pleasure and satisfaction from it. 

Being mindful means being fully aware of what currently is at the present moment.

This means you take in the sight of your food, the delectable aroma and even the different textures that play in your mouth. Most of all, you will take time to savor every taste. In doing so, you will learn to appreciate your food more because you begin to experience it as it truly is. Is it warm and savory? Sweet and velvety?

Is there a balance between the flavors present in the dish? All of these things will not only help you enjoy your foods, but will also give your body the feeling of satisfaction. It is obvious that eating will make you feel full and satisfied, but mindful eating also has the added benefit of letting you eat just right instead of too much.

Mindless eating leads people to eat more because they are not aware of how much they eat or whether or not their hunger has already been satisfied. 

There is also the tendency to eat less healthy foods as you are not fully aware of what you are eating and what its effects are on your body. This is why mindful eating is recommended for eating right and healthy.

Before eating just anything that is being offered, take time to notice what it is that your body really needs and what your food options are. If you are hungry, will you choose a chocolate bar or a filling sandwich?

You can go to the nearest fast food chain, or you can take a little more time in enjoying well-cooked foods or natural options. Just because fast food or junk food is there does not mean that they are the only options. Know what your body wants and needs and choose wisely before you eat,

says Sarah Brooks.

To sum it up –

All that is necessary is here, in the ‘now’, in the perfect arc of a single bite, done mindfully enough!