I try to remember to breathe while eating, and I often make myself put my fork down, chew, savor, enjoy, take a breath, take a small sip of water to clear the palate, and then continue with the next bite. Putting down the fork is a huge step forward in encouraging mindfulness. If I go a few bites without stopping, I will start to get "on a roll", and just shovel it in as fast as possible.

Other than that, I've had success surrounding intermittent fasting in regards to general food-reward responses. When you're fasting, you tend to notice much more readily when you have an "I need food to cope with that" response. Just don't let your fasting become disordered; you want to fast for your health, and fully savor the amount of food that you need to be healthy, when you are eating. I think this is one of the more important aspects of learning to cope without emotional eating, just be conscious of what you are inclined to substitute in it's place; or better yet: be forearmed with healthy coping mechanisms.

Oddly enough (given the fructose), berries are one of my favorite things for practicing mindfulness; I will smell them, lick, nibble, put the berry into my mouth, roll it around, feel the individual vesicles, slowly bite and feel a couple pop, savor the flavors and juices, roll the berry around more, and then crush it, feeling the juices pop... I can spend minutes just eating a single berry. Find something that you can FULLY savor in the same way. Something that the smell of really entices you is a perfect starting point.

"Has anyone had any experience with mindful eating while pursuing paleo dietary principles? Do you practice any rituals such as prayer or offering thanks prior to eating?"

No and No. My recent success is based on reducing the importance of food in my life rather than making it even more so. I learned to enjoy real, whole foods in the early months on this lifestyle and once I was acclimated to the foods I drifted into intermittent fasting (IF).

I support whatever helps an individual control the urge to overeat or binge.

Try "The Beck Diet Solution" - It is a book on cognitive behavior therapy and it works with any diet, including Paleo. Really helps to work on any behavioral issues, including food addictions and phobias. Makes you eat mindfully.

There are people here who practice mindful meditation and mindful eating certainly is one aspect of that. Search for meditation and you will find some threads that you may find helpful.

Minutes on a single berry?? You should become a book writer after that description!