November 2022: Celebrating Pomegranates for Wellness

Nov. 2, 2022

Wellness Tables

November 2

5:30–7 p.m. at Center for Jewish Life Dining Hall

November 3

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. at Butler Dining Hall

November 8

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. at Whitman Dining Hall

November 10

5–6:30 p.m. at New College West and Yeh Dining Halls

December 1

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. at Rockefeller and Mathey Dining Halls

5–6:30 p.m. at Forbes Dining Hall

 

Recipe

INGREDIENTS

  • Dark chocolate
  • Fresh pomegranate arils

 

DIRECTIONS

  1. Line a mini muffin pan with liners.

  2. Place pomegranate arils evenly in each section of the muffin pan.

  3. Melt chocolate with in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave or in a small pot over the stove.

  4. Pour melted chocolate over arils, just enough to cover the bottom of the liner.

  5. Refrigerate until morsels harden.

  6. Remove from pan, and store in an airtight container. Best if enjoyed mindfully!

 

Recipe from Campus Wellness Dietician, Puneet Sethi, RDN

 

 

Mindful Eating Exercise

Try to keep quiet during the exercise and focus all of your attention on the chocolate. Approach the exercise with an open mind and a gentle curiosity.

  • Pick up your wrapped chocolate but don’t eat it yet.
  • Place it in the palm of your hand and notice the colors and shapes. Feel the weight of it in your hand. Examine it closely.
  • Touch the morsel with your fingers and feel the texture. Pay attention to any sounds when feeling the chocolate. Look at the different sides of the chocolate and notice any place that the light, and any shadows.
  • If your mind starts to wander and think about other things, that’s ok. Notice the thoughts and bring your attention back to the chocolate.
  • You may hear other people or other noises in the room. Notice the sounds and bring your attention back to the chocolate.
  • Raise the chocolate to your nose and smell the chocolate. Slowly breathe in several times and focus on the different smells. Does smelling the chocolate trigger anything else in your body?
  • Is your mouth watering? Are you having any thoughts,” Hurry up and let me eat the chocolate!” “What’s taking so long?” If so, notice them and bring your attention back to smelling the chocolate.
  • Now slowly take a small bite of the chocolate, but do not chew it or swallow it. Notice the feeling and taste of the chocolate in your mouth. How does it feel as it melts? Notice the taste and sensations of the chocolate on your tongue. Move the chocolate around in your mouth. Try to notice the moment where you feel like you want to swallow. Slowly swallow the chocolate, focusing on the sensations.

Notice any lingering tastes or sensations. How was this different from your normal way of eating chocolate?

What did you notice during the exercise?

Any thoughts about how these principles might apply to eating or other areas of your life?