When Did We Stop Just Eating ?
A quiet breakfast turned into a question I couldn’t ignore
I turned off the video and looked at my plate.
Oh, the egg yolk is shining and almost smiling at me. Good thing I made sunny side up today—not only does it taste delicious, but it also feels joyful.
Hm, avocado and a dried cranberry taste quite good together. I really like how the rich, smooth avocado melts effortlessly, while the sweet cranberry—a bit rough, adds a playful contrast. A perfect match.
…
Suddenly, I remembered a post I wrote on Instagram back in 2019, where I asked a simple question:
“When was the last time you ate without your phone?”
Shouldn’t I ask myself the same question now?
In fact, a few weeks ago, I decided to try something: eating without any distractions. Just me and my food. (Obviously, only when I eat alone)
I did well for about a week. And then… well.
I started “pretending” that it wasn’t working out, silently making excuses—why I needed to watch that video, why I had to learn that thing, why I should use my time efficiently while eating.
And just like that, I was back on that needle again.
Up to this point.
Because right after I finished my breakfast, I grabbed an iPad and started writing this.
Eating without distractions is just another habit—something that takes effort and time to build. But why is it so easily neglected?
I believe the reason splits into two:
1. We get bored just eating—because, really, why not catch up on ‘who did what’ or in my case—watch one more educational YouTube video?
2. When we’re not distracted by external impulses, our thoughts enter the room and start unpacking without our permission. And some of them? Not that pleasant.
And most importantly…
WHY should we choose to eat without distractions?
…
Maybe eating without distractions isn’t just about food. Maybe it’s about how we experience life itself.
…
As Brianna Wiest wrote:
“A meaningful life isn’t how often you can saturate your senses, but how you grow to think of even the simplest, most unassuming daily things.”
Avocado with dried cranberry is such a match.