First, there are the reflections before we eat. To reflect on what the reason is that we eat. To keep the body alive and healthy, to keep it unharmed, to give us energy and strength. So we understand why we eat. This is quite important because a lot of the time we forget this aspect. We don't eat for pleasure, the deeper reason is that we have to support this body. We need to keep it strong and healthy so that we have more energy to develop the practice and keep the life force going.
The next reflection is how fortunate we are. Understanding that we are very fortunate to have such good food at a time when others may not have any; the quality or the healthiness or even the quantity that we have to keep the body going. How fortunate we are.
Then we reflect on the difficulties in getting the food to us. This is quite an important part of the reflection and I find it very helpful. It doesn't only refer to food reflection but to many other things that we may feel inclined to consume. By understanding how things arose we realize more clearly the interrelationship of life. Taking it back down the food chain - how does it come to us? The food came to us because of others and many living beings died in the process of that food coming to us.
We learn to be grateful, content and understand the cycle of existence. This gives us more balance when we eat and helps us in the mindfulness process of eating, as well as being much more content even if the food is boring, unpleasant or other such perceptions.