A very challenging task for me personally. But so important for success on the Beck program and beyond. After years of struggling to make this habit, I happened on this helpful book on Amazon, which puts a fun spin on the slow eating challenge by turning it into fun games you can play with your kids, or anybody for that matter!
Once again, we can come up with plenty of excuses as to why we eat fast:
Once again, we can come up with plenty of excuses as to why we eat fast:
- I don't have time to eat slowly.
- I like to eat fast.
- I don't want to think about that stuff when I'm eating - it just stresses me out!
- I have to eat fast so I can get back to taking care of the kids/spouse/dogs/fish...in other words, everybody but me!
How would you answer these excuses back with Helpful Responses?
Eating slowly is another element of the mindful eating we are striving for in Beck, and for the rest of our life. We want to enjoy our food, be satisfied by it, be nourished by it, celebrate living with it! The next time you're eating, take the time to notice how the food feels in your mouth. What does it taste like? What are the textures? How does it make you feel? Does it nourish you?
Beck also offers some other strategies to slow down at the table - for instance, you can use an interval, like this one: http://boxingtimer.org/. Take bites whenever the interval beeper goes off. When I tried this method I started off at 30 second intervals. It feels like being part of a science experiment, but it's a great way to retrain yourself to slow down between bites.
You can also rearrange your eating environment. Set the table with your finest china and best tablecloth if that's what it takes to inspire you to slow down and savor. Why should you only save them for holidays anyway? Celebrate yourself!
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| By Jeremy Noble from St. Paul, via Wikimedia Commons |
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