Slow food are words I thought that were strictly attributed to the notion that we should not eat quickly. I had no idea there is an international organization titled Slow Foods and that there are chapters in many states and in many cities across the states. The organization does promote Mindful eating and not eating quickly but it also promotes the concept of cooking for yourself so you know the ingredients of your food rather than have some robot adding extra salt or sugar or fat.
Most Americans want their food fast. Most of us eat fast and have our meals prepared by someone else so we do not have to take the time out for cooking. Someone of us even wolf down a meal or two while driving or while sitting at our desks. I am guilty of the last behavior particularly when there is a deadline for an article looming over me.
The problem is when we are eating standing up at the kitchen counter or grabbing a hunk of cheese for the car, we cannot hear our body telling us when we are full. You may not know this but it takes about 20 minutes on average for the brain to notify the stomach that you have had enough to eat.
Also, when you eat fast and do not think about what you are eating, you eat more quickly and don't pay attention to how much you are eating so we tend to eat more. Part of what makes eating so pleasurable and why we describe a meal as a great meal or someone as a great cook is because we want a meal that tastes good, gives us pleasure and helps us relax. If those elements are missing we tend to keep on eating even after we are no longer hungry. It is those extra pounds which put us at higher risk for diabetes, stroke, heart disease and some cancers.
That is good enough reason for me to not just look at the ingredients in my food but also the circumstances under which I am eating. Interesting concept isn't it. I will write a bit more about slow eating in my next post but you may want to check out this web site: http://www.slowfood.com
Let me know what you think about the website and if you found a chapter near you.
To your success at balancing your life.
Ruthan Brodsky
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