The simplest and most impactful way to eat better
When it comes to eating better, most people worry about the details …
‘Are potatoes fattening?’
‘If I don’t drink a protein shake after my workout, is it even worth exercising?’
‘Is keto the best way to lose weight? Or should I be fasting? Or go Vegan?’
There may come a time for these kinds of details, but it’s not the right place to start.
Do any (or all) of these ring true for you …?
You eat over the kitchen sink, directly from the fridge or cupboards
You pick at ingredients (quite a bit) when you’re preparing meals
You finish off the kids meals because you ‘don’t like waste’
You multitask your meals - eating while driving, answering emails, scrolling the phone or zoning out in front of the TV.
And who can blame you? These days we’re less mindful than ever, and we’ve been taught to think about what we eat, not how we eat.
But, eating slowly and mindfully can actually be an incredibly powerful, and often overlooked, habit for driving major transformation.
Instead of having to figure out which foods to eat, in what frequency, and in what portions - all important factors, of course - eating slowly is the simplest way anyone can start eating and feeling better, immediately.
Why? Two reasons:
It takes about 20 minutes for your body to signal that you’re full. Slow eating gives the system time to work, allowing you to get a better sense of when you’ve had enough.
When you slow down, and really try to enjoy your meal, you tend to feel satisfied with less. Because you notice things more.
Sounds simple enough doesn’t it. But people struggle with this habit. I mean, really struggle.
If that’s you, know that eating quickly isn’t a personality trait, it’s a learned behaviour.
And, conversely, slow eating isn’t something you aren’t built for, it’s a skill. And, like any skill, it improves with practice. You don’t need to manage it every time, small improvements are worth it.
Let’s make healthy simple
Do this to build the skill of eating slowly …
Plan to eat – start with your diary and carve out time for your breakfast, lunch and dinner
Set the scene - eat from a plate with cutlery. Not at the cupboard, the fridge, or at your desk
Pause first – transition into eating. Move to the table, take a few breaths
Notice more – flavours, textures, colours, feelings of hunger and fullness.
Enjoyed this Healthy Nugget?
Sign up below to receive my free emails every Friday!