Mindful eating Tip 1 - A way to slow down how fast you eat
First let's talk about the why it helps to slow down when you eat your food.
There are two reasons to eat slowly. Both have to do with becoming more mindful.
The first reason - to get more satisfaction and pleasure from your food. The second is to "hear" your body tell you that you have eaten enough food and are not hungry anymore.
When you eat quickly, you miss out on the pleasure from truly tasting your food. It is very difficult to experience the taste, texture, and even how your food looks on your plate as you eat it.
Another reason it is important to eat your food slowly
Your body has messages that it sends your brain.
One of the ones we probably all can recognize is "I am hungry."
This message is telling our body we need fuel. Which means it is time to eat.
The "I am hungry" message is an important one. It helps us prevent low blood sugar levels. It helps us feed our bodies at regular times during the day.
The other message
Besides the "I am hungry" message, your body has another message/information that helps us eat the right amount of food. That is the message of "I am done eating, or I am satisfied."
This one happens at the end of a meal.
Both the "I am hungry" and the "I am satisfied" messages are slow to be relayed to the brain.
It takes 20 to 30 minutes for your stomach to send the message to your brain that you have eaten enough food.
If a person eats quickly, it is possible to eat a large amount of food and calories before realizing they have eaten too much.
How to slow your eating
Put your utensil down between bites.
Eat with your non-dominant hand.
If you would like to work to become more mindful, https://www.nutritionandhealthworks.com/work-with-me
Juanita
Your dietitian in your pocket