Take Smaller Bites
- Alaina
- Jul 7, 2017
- 2 min read
Yesterday, as I was gobbling down a slice of pizza, I thought to myself, “why am I taking such big bites and eating this so fast. Why am I in such a rush?” I recently heard something on the radio that chewing your food more helps you to absorb fewer calories. HA! I am not a doctor or a nutritionist, so I can't say if this is true. It would be nice, but I doubt if I chewed that bite of pizza 30 more times the calories would have disappeared. That would be amazing, though!
But We Are Busy…
That being said, it probably is true that the more you chew and break down your food, the easier it is for your body to absorb the nutrients from it. I am sure I am not the only one who has rushed through a meal so you can do the dishes, finish homework, pay the bills, go for a run, or do whatever it is that needs to be done. Do we even taste our food half of the time? Do we really not even have time to chew anymore?
Why the Rush?
Some days it feels like this. For some reason, in our society we feel that we must rush through and fill up every minute of our days. Our children are in every activity imaginable. Most parents work one if not two jobs and then have other engagements, as well. When days are so full, are we really able to appreciate and find the joy in all of it? Probably not. The question is how to find the time to accomplish what we need to, and still appreciate and absorb our lives?
Ask Yourself This
The answer is to take smaller bites. This will be different for everyone. Take a look at your daily schedule and ask yourself these questions:
Are all of the activities necessary?
Do I enjoy each of these activities?
Do I need more family time?
Do I need more me time?
Do I need more spiritual time?
Chew Slower
Answering these questions will help you to re-evaluate the priorities in your life. If you find that your hectic schedule is just as it must be, then try to chew slower. Savor every moment of your day, every minute with your loved ones. Try to not just go through the motions, but actually be present. Take in the smells, sights, and sounds around you and absorb life. The following is one of my favorite sayings and I think it sums up what I am saying. “Cleaning and scrubbing can wait ‘til tomorrow. For babies grow up, we’ve learned to our sorrow. So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep. I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.” If we don’t savor these moments, they will be distant memories before we even realize they happened.
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