Chewing is often overlooked when you’re squeezing in meals throughout the day. We all have busy schedules and we all multitask, especially when it comes to eating.
I tend to eat while I’m watching a twenty minute show on Netflix. I don’t have much time for TV and I don’t have a whole lot of time to eat, so I often enjoy them together. This habit is okay, but I’m not really consciously eating like I should. Instead, I’m just inhaling the food, and when I’m done, I’m like “wait, I finished…I’m still hungry”. Do you know what I’m talking about? I think you do. Some people eat while standing at the kitchen, others eat at their desks, and some eat while driving (tisk! tisk!).
My challenge for you this week is to consciously chew your food slowly, concentrating on each bite. Chewing is an integral part in the digestive process. By chewing your food more thoroughly and mindfully, your body won’t have to use as much energy to digest it, and your brain will have a chance to realize that you’re full. This goes for when you’re drinking green smoothies too. Most green smoothies have a gritty, apple sauce-like texture, so make sure you chew that too so it mixes well with your saliva to aid in the digestive process.
The more you chew, the less enzymes you have to use to digest your food, and the more energy you have for the rest of the day. Not to mention, the more energy your body has for beautifying itself, like rebuilding and replacing damaged cells, including the collagen of the skin.
Is this challenge doable? We can do this!
Let me know how it goes in the comments below.
XO Devon