We all have busy lives. We often barely have time to breathe, let alone eat. Yet, one of the great pleasures of being on this planet circling the sun is eating good food.

So, my challenge for you for one week is to slow down, eat at a table (not your desk), breathe before you start eating, and enjoy your food more slowly. You may already be doing this, so if that’s the case, great, keep it up!

If you take on this challenge, perhaps you will find yourself looking at and smelling your food before you put a bite in your mouth. Perhaps you will express gratitude for the food, the nourishment it provides, the farmer who grew it or the cook who prepared it. It may be that you prepared your meal, thank yourself!

Perhaps you will even take a moment to delight in the wonder of your body, that takes in this food, digests it, absorbs it and turns it into energy, blood, bones and skin. Mind you, your body does this mostly automatically, just for you.

Eating is an intimate experience, don’t miss out on the simple pleasures of food by rushing or worrying or thinking about your next meal or your to do list. I know I’m guilty of all of the above, but I’m consciously working on slowing it all down, and enjoying it all a bit more. The end result…I feel like I’m in love with my food. I’m so satisfied. You can also experience better digestion, and greater satiety and satisfaction.

So, the next time it’s time to eat, maybe start with a deep breath, then an exhale and know that this meal, right in front of you, if you’re lucky enough to have it, is here just for you, and it’s there for your nourishment AND your enjoyment, so go for it!

My questions for you are:

• What can you do to slow down the experience of eating?
• Who would you like to enjoy a slow meal with?

Once you answer these questions, make a plan to carry them out and see what good comes of your efforts. Perhaps you’ll find yourself stopping before you’re full or maybe you’ll experience more easeful digestion. Perhaps you’ll have more pleasure in your day and feel more satisfied. Heck, you could even lose some excess weight, who knows.

I invite you to smell the strawberry before you bite into it’s beautiful red colored flesh and enjoy like it like you’ve never had one before. Smell and delight in the smell of fresh baked bread, even if you’re allergic to gluten, you can still enjoy the smell. But, you know what you enjoy, so seek it out and enjoy it!

Please leave a comment below and let me know how you plan on slowing it all down with food and how it changes things in a positive way for you.

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Yours in health,