Quick, eat slowly!!

I don’t claim to be an expert about the slow eating movement, because I’m not. I’ve heard about it, seen occasional blog post titles about it, but I can’t say I know anything about it except that it probably has something to do with eating your food slowly.

I work at a start up company in Silicon Valley, and the people I work with are pretty quick at what they do. This of course mainly points to their quick thinking and doing their job extremely well. But it also has to do with them eating extremely fast. I have always been a fast eater, but I was in a whole new class. I’m not sure what it has to do with anything, perhaps a burning desire to return to their keyboards and compose code, or just an impatience about being around too many other people, I don’t know. But the amount of time it takes an engineer around here to clear a plate of, say, potato salad, is pretty impressive.

But for someone who is limiting their food intake to 1,200 calories per day, one wants to enjoy their food they’re eating when they have it. Since meals tend to be much smaller and lighter in nature, such as salad and perhaps a small portion of meat, if one is a fast eater, the amount of time to down your meal will be just a couple of minutes, perhaps a little slower if it contains a beverage. And if you’re eating dinner with someone else, showing impatience while watching your wife “slowly” finish her meal isn’t a good way to build up your relationship.

Just before writing this post, I made myself a tuna sandwich (two slices of wheat bread, one spoonful of tuna salad spread, mustard, lettuce, tomato and pickle) and a small glass of water to wash it down. I told myself that I would stop and enjoy each bit of that sandwich, something made easier reading the news off of my iPhone. Not only did I enjoy that tuna salad a whole lot more, I was able to actually compose a thought in my head thinking about what I was reading, thinking about family, long lost friends, you name it.  I also actually thought about how good that sandwich tasted.

I think you get my point. This doesn’t just go for people on a diet.  Slow down when eating your meal.  You’ll enjoy your food a whole lot more, and it will probably also help you not take those unnecessary snacks between meals.

Happy eating.