Above we discussed how certain things we do are basic to our survival and are therefore hard-wired. Hard-wired motivations make them more difficult to work with but also they can be easier to notice. Food and the socialization that surround eating are both basic to our survival and therefore can be valuable places to watch ourselves.
Of course, when living by oneself, food and eating can be a fairly simple process. When alone we choose what, how and when we eat. In addition, because we are alone we have the choice to try and maintain silence by not reading or listening/watching something while giving our focus toward the sati of eating. However, if someone has certain forms of aversion or greed surrounding food, a meal alone can still be a very complex situation. On retreat, set your intention to be as mindful as possible throughout the entire meal preparation, eating, and clean-up process.
Eat at prescribed times. Do not snack unless medically called for. Making hunger an object of mindfulness while formally meditating and/or being out and about can anchor you with a doable, unpleasant object of attention.
