We are all familiar with the age old story of the Tortoise and the Hare, touting the effectiveness of being "slow and steady" in your endeavors. But did you know that this applies to eating too?
I recently read an article by Brian St. Pierre, "All About Eating Slowly" discussing the pitfalls of racing through our meals and the benefits of eating at a more relaxed pace.
Most of us lead crazy, busy lives, and meal time is no exception. But eating quickly can do way more harm than good. Eating quickly leads to eating more than we need, which results in poor digestion, weight gain, and lower satisfaction from eating. On the other hand, eating slowly makes for better digestion, easier weight maintenance, and much greater satisfaction from our food.
Here are some tips from the article on how to eat more slowly:
1. Sit down to eat in a calm environment with minimal distractions. Don’t eat while driving, while watching TV, while texting, etc. Pay attention to your food.
2. Choose high-fiber foods that take more time to chew. This includes more fresh fruits and vegetables.
3. Put down your utensils between bites.Take a moment. Breathe. If you’re eating with other people, enjoy making witty conversation for a few minutes.
4. Set a minimum number of chews per bite. This will feel strange at first, but give it a try and see what you discover.
5. Use smaller plates or different utensils. (Ex: chopsticks)
6. Practice makes perfect. If you find yourself rushing, that’s OK. Put your utensils down and take a minute to re-focus. If slow eating isn’t habitual for you, this will take practice.
7. Find another slow eater and pace yourselves to them. Picky little kids and chatty dinner companions who hardly stop talking long enough to take a bite are often ideal for this.
8. Set aside time to eat. Leave at least 20-30 minutes for each meal, and preferably even longer at dinner. Don’t just eat “whenever you get around to it” or treat it as an inconvenience. You’re fueling your body and maybe spending quality time with friends and family. That’s important. It deserves an appointment.
If you would like to read the full article yourself, please let me know and I would be happy to forward it to you. Have a happy and healthy week :)
This blog post is part of my weekly series called Trainer Tip Tuesday. Each Tuesday, I send a "Trainer Tip Tuesday" email, with a great tip/article I've come across recently, a recipe I have tried, or something health/fitness related that I personally experienced. If you would like to subscribe to the email list and get my Trainer Tip Tuesday posts a week before they are published here, please CLICK HERE
I recently read an article by Brian St. Pierre, "All About Eating Slowly" discussing the pitfalls of racing through our meals and the benefits of eating at a more relaxed pace.
Most of us lead crazy, busy lives, and meal time is no exception. But eating quickly can do way more harm than good. Eating quickly leads to eating more than we need, which results in poor digestion, weight gain, and lower satisfaction from eating. On the other hand, eating slowly makes for better digestion, easier weight maintenance, and much greater satisfaction from our food.
Here are some tips from the article on how to eat more slowly:
1. Sit down to eat in a calm environment with minimal distractions. Don’t eat while driving, while watching TV, while texting, etc. Pay attention to your food.
2. Choose high-fiber foods that take more time to chew. This includes more fresh fruits and vegetables.
3. Put down your utensils between bites.Take a moment. Breathe. If you’re eating with other people, enjoy making witty conversation for a few minutes.
4. Set a minimum number of chews per bite. This will feel strange at first, but give it a try and see what you discover.
5. Use smaller plates or different utensils. (Ex: chopsticks)
6. Practice makes perfect. If you find yourself rushing, that’s OK. Put your utensils down and take a minute to re-focus. If slow eating isn’t habitual for you, this will take practice.
7. Find another slow eater and pace yourselves to them. Picky little kids and chatty dinner companions who hardly stop talking long enough to take a bite are often ideal for this.
8. Set aside time to eat. Leave at least 20-30 minutes for each meal, and preferably even longer at dinner. Don’t just eat “whenever you get around to it” or treat it as an inconvenience. You’re fueling your body and maybe spending quality time with friends and family. That’s important. It deserves an appointment.
If you would like to read the full article yourself, please let me know and I would be happy to forward it to you. Have a happy and healthy week :)
This blog post is part of my weekly series called Trainer Tip Tuesday. Each Tuesday, I send a "Trainer Tip Tuesday" email, with a great tip/article I've come across recently, a recipe I have tried, or something health/fitness related that I personally experienced. If you would like to subscribe to the email list and get my Trainer Tip Tuesday posts a week before they are published here, please CLICK HERE
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