Slow Down
A few years ago I prepared a nice meal of black-bean burritos and spanish rice. For whatever reason, I noticed we sat to eat at 6:40 PM. I was clearing the table at 6:50!! I was astonished; we had sat down and inhaled this meal in less than 10 minutes. What a waste.
Fast eating is a reaction to the pressures of life. The need to get to the next task drives us to eat fast. Eating fast is not beneficial for our body or our mind. Cramming food into the body promotes overeating because we are eating so quickly it is impossible for our body to tell us how full our stomach is going to be. It is certain that we will eat more than we should when we are hurried. Devouring food quickly is also unsettling mentally. The frantic approach does not allow a relaxed consumption; we taste and enjoy more when we are relaxed.
Here are some pointers that promote slower eating.
Break the meal up. Serve a small salad or appetizer and keep the rest of the food away from the table. Let everyone eat the offering and converse then bring the rest to the table. This simple change will increase awareness of the elements of the meal, not the meal as a whole.
Dim the lights. The darker environment will calm the space and promote slower consumption.
Drink two large glasses of water 20 minutes before the meal is scheduled. This is an old diet trick, but it is good. The water will be in your stomach and will work away the urge to eat fast. A growling stomach can turbocharge your eating rate.
Guess the seasoning. On a new dish, encourage the table-sitters to taste the dish and tell what ingredients are present. It forces one to slowly taste the dish and consider what’s there. This is a good conversation starter too. You can vary this by talking about modifications that might taste good or compare it to similar dishes you’ve served.
Eat slow, enjoy!!!
Fast eating is a reaction to the pressures of life. The need to get to the next task drives us to eat fast. Eating fast is not beneficial for our body or our mind. Cramming food into the body promotes overeating because we are eating so quickly it is impossible for our body to tell us how full our stomach is going to be. It is certain that we will eat more than we should when we are hurried. Devouring food quickly is also unsettling mentally. The frantic approach does not allow a relaxed consumption; we taste and enjoy more when we are relaxed.
Here are some pointers that promote slower eating.
Break the meal up. Serve a small salad or appetizer and keep the rest of the food away from the table. Let everyone eat the offering and converse then bring the rest to the table. This simple change will increase awareness of the elements of the meal, not the meal as a whole.
Dim the lights. The darker environment will calm the space and promote slower consumption.
Drink two large glasses of water 20 minutes before the meal is scheduled. This is an old diet trick, but it is good. The water will be in your stomach and will work away the urge to eat fast. A growling stomach can turbocharge your eating rate.
Guess the seasoning. On a new dish, encourage the table-sitters to taste the dish and tell what ingredients are present. It forces one to slowly taste the dish and consider what’s there. This is a good conversation starter too. You can vary this by talking about modifications that might taste good or compare it to similar dishes you’ve served.
Eat slow, enjoy!!!
posted by maninthekitchen at 1:32 AM
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