Impact of Mindfulness Program on Perceived Wellness, Eating Habits and Relationship to Food

Mindfulness, seemingly a simple concept, research shows that the impact of mindfulness on the overall wellness of an individual can be helpful (5). Research supports that mindfulness leads to reduced stress, enhanced performance, better focus, and improved approach (7). Areas of mindfulnessare mindful eating,movement and meditation. Application of mindfulness tools in these areas can be beneficial to health outcomes and to create a happier more efficient work environment (9). Mindful eating shows to improve diet quality and attitudes toward food and eating. Individuals better understand physical hunger/fullness cues, improve nutrient density, weight control,digestion,systolic blood pressure, and stress(2). Disordered eating behaviors have also shown to improve(3). Mindless eating, such as eating while being on the phone, driving, or watching television can have the opposite effect and can be linked to more emotional hunger cues. Combining mindful eating with diet therapy can lead to healthier food choices and a more positive feeling towards eating and body image, reducing stress and improving the overall wellness of an individual (4). Aspire\'s experience shows that aspects of teacher\'s wellness is worsening with ,media reporting more and more employees resigning from their positions every day (wccb,2021). Teachers have voiced their need for more support with their wellbeing. As a result, Aspire Nutrition is targeting school employees through a newly developed mindfulness program titled Nourish Carolina. This program will be focused on improving the overall wellness of participants Participants are enrolled in the study for 12 weeks. All participants will have weekly nutritional counseling and bi-weekly mental health counseling. Study group will have nutrition and mental health counseling with mindfulness activities and control group will receive nutrition and mental health sessions without mindfulness activities. There is a program curriculum so that mental health and nutrition mindfulness activities compliment eachother The mindfulness lessons for study group are divided into 6 nutrition and 6 mental health sessions,for 15 minutes during the session. Positive outcomes could include improved workplace performance as a result of enhancing school employees overall wellness and quality of life by reducing stress levels, improving diet quality, and improving mental health.