Never Look At Food The Same Way Again

Last week we reviewed four basics to check in on before moving on to more advanced skills.

Skills that most people neglect because they seem too simple.

But simple done consistently gets results.

They were: Eating Slowly, Eating to 80% Full, Meal Portions, and Whole Foods

Over the next few weeks we’ll take a deeper dive into each of these habits.

Today, Eating Slowly.

The skill is self explanatory, but the results might surprise you.

Why would you eat slowly? Well, slow eaters...

• Tend to be less overweight

• Are more satisfied with their meals

• Experience less cravings

• Feel more full

• Eat less frequently

• Are more likely to maintain or decrease their portion size on their next meal

• Eat fewer calories

• Have better digestion

That’s an impressive list, especially for a habit that costs you nothing. Not only that, you can do it no matter what you are eating, whether it be broccoli or pizza.

Just as God is the anchor for our faith, eating slowly can be an anchor for your eating. It’s what you fall back on when you’re struggling. It’s what you return to when it seems like you’ve fallen off the wagon.

This seems easy, but if you have tried it, you know it usually isn’t. So what can we do to slow ourselves down?

1. Set your intentions - Remind yourself before the meal that you want to eat slowly. Have a goal in mind. 20 minutes is a good goal to work toward.

2. Focus on gratitude - Think about God’s provision in the meal, or the person who prepared it, or the people who allowed it to be on your plate.

3. Chew fully and taste all the flavors - The saying, “Chew your food to a paste” has helped me. Some people count chews.

4. Put down your utensils regularly - This could be to talk, listen, observe, think, laugh, or breathe. Anything to take a break.

5. Avoid Distractions - No TV. No Computer, No Phone. These lead to mindless eating.

6. Make it a contest - Pick the slowest eater at the table, perhaps your picky child, and don’t finish before they do.

The temptation is to write off this habit because it seems too elementary. Don't do it.

And don’t quit when you find out how hard it is!

Just practice, practice, practice and it will transform your eating.

It will help you meet your nutrition goals.

It will shift the way you look at food forever.

Give it a try for two weeks. You’ll be grateful you did.

If you want someone to guide you through this process, encourage you, and help you achieve your health goals, contact me about becoming a coaching client..

If you are new to the blog, I want to encourage you to go back and check out my previous posts, as they serve as the foundation for what we talk about each week.

Committed to serving you,

Mark