They claim nutrition is all about the vitamins and minerals, but what if I told you there is a forgotten nutrient that has the power to change how you eat and feel? It’s called Vitamin P (no, it’s not on the supplement shelf) and it stands for Pleasure the happiness, enjoyment, and satisfaction you experience when you eat. When combined with mindful eating, this powerful duo can completely transform your relationship with food and your overall well being.
Now it’s time to look at food as not just fuel but also as a source of joy, connection, and well being. How does pleasure fit into health? Let’s find out.
The Forgotten Nutrient: Pleasure in Every Bite
Picture this. It’s a quiet Sunday morning. You are sipping on warm coffee with the smell wafting in the air, and a fresh baked croissant is looking golden and flaky on your plate. You take a bite and time suddenly slows down. That ladies and gentlemen is mindful eating, and it’s not simply another word we throw around but a transformation for the better.
Amidst the rush of calorie counting, guilt induced eating, and feeling overwhelmed by all the conflicting information regarding food choices and how to eat, it is easy to overlook one important fact: enjoyment is part of health; let’s call it Vitamin P. When we create a connection between joy and our food, our body responds positively. Eating is not just a physical act; it is emotional, sensory, and can be spiritual.
The Savoury Science
Research suggests that when one enjoys what they eat, their digestion improves, cravings subside, and one is more likely to feel satisfied after eating less! In other words, less bingeing, less emotional eating, and less lethargy throughout the day
Pleasure isn’t an additive, it’s feedback from your body saying: “This feels right!” When we add pleasure to mindfulness, we can create a whole new paradigm in the way we view food.
Think about how you might improve the relationship you have with food. Rather than making the task of eating something you need to do while multitasking, what if you stopped? What if you took a moment to sit down and enjoy your lunch between meetings? Imagine letting the flavors of your meal roll around in your mouth while appreciating the different textures. Chewing with purpose, you begin to think of your food not just as fuel, but as nourishment for your body. Even minor changes like these can help your body use nutrients more effectively.
Mindful Eating: A Roadmap Back To Your Body
Workplace culture is loud and often tries to override your intuition. Mindful eating creates a pause. It asks you to listen to hunger cues, fullness and satisfaction.
Think of it as a friendship with food. No judgement, only curiosity. What does your body truly want? Something crunchy? Warm? You are nourishing a soul rather than a body. And nurturing requires pleasure.
Pleasure tells your brain you’re safe, fulfilled, and taken care of. Without it, we chase fullness without ever truly feeling fed. With it, we reconnect with our innate wisdom.
Eat Happy, Live Fully
Vitamin P isn’t sold in supplement aisles, and that’s the beauty of it. It’s in the first strawberry of summer, the chocolate square after a long day, or a nourishing bowl of soup when you’re under the weather.
When you eat with intention and mindful eating becomes your habit, food turns from fuel into experience. It becomes ritual, celebration, self care. You begin to eat not just for survival but for joy, for balance, for love.
And here’s the secret: when your meals bring you joy, your body notices. Your body digests food more efficiently, stores less unwanted fat, and ultimately thrives.
The Last Bite
Give yourself permission to savor. Bring back mindful eating not as a rule but as a reunion with your senses, your body, your joy. Vitamin P isn’t indulgent. It’s essential. So go ahead, take that bite… slowly, and let it nourish more than just your hunger.