Time is a valuable commodity and wasting precious minutes on the mere consumption of food seems wasteful. Eating, after all, is simply the act of providing your body with fuel, is it not?
The truth is that if your morning commute involves steering with your knees while you scarf down a BLT, you’re on a first-name basis with the guy at the drive thru, or your idea of a home-cooked meal is a Lean Cuisine, you are missing out. Food is much more than mere petrol for the brain. It is, in fact, one of life’s greatest gifts–able to tantalize your taste buds, awaken your sense of smell, and provide a visual feast of textures, shapes, and colors. Food is meant to be savored.
Yes, there will be times when “eating on the run” is unavoidable. But, if you take an honest appraisal of your lifestyle, there are also times when you can be still and truly enjoy your food. It all begins with examining the role that food plays in your life.
Discover Your Preferences
It’s hard to get excited about something you don’t like. You will rarely see a child “savor” a plate full of liver and spinach. That’s why it’s important to understand what foods truly speak to your soul.
What food aromas make you hungry? The smell of freshly baked bread, the waft of garlic on the frying pan, or the scent of a squeezed lemon? What textures do you most enjoy? The squeak of a cheese curd between your teeth, the smoothness of freshly whipped cream, or the crispy coating of battered cod? By examining the different facets of foods and identifying your preferences, you will be able to select items that are worthy of your time and attention.
Just Say “Yes”
If money was no object and you had ample free time, what food would you eat? In “An Expert Interview on Making Memorable Moments that Matter,” Plum Deluxe’s Andy Hayes invites readers to treat themselves to that favorite flavor that makes them happy a little more often.
Have a slice of your favorite Peanut Butter and Chocolate pie. Splurge on a that expensive cut of beef once in a while. Finding ways to incorporate the foods that you love into your life will enable you to better enjoy your life. Just remember that too much can spoil a good thing.
This is a Special Occasion
Do you save your fine china, best silver, and prettiest linens for a special occasion that never seems to come? Why not, instead, celebrate your favorite meals in style? You, after all, are worth it.
“5 Ways to Practice Mindful Eating” asserts that by using your nice china, you will be more likely to treat your meal as something you don’t want to rush through. Not only will your best dishware appreciate seeing the light of day, but you will be more apt to focus and truly enjoy the flavors, textures, and aromas of your food.
Rethink Your Tools
Over the years, you’ve become pretty handy with a fork and knife. In fact, you can shovel in great volumes of food without dropping a single speck. As impressive as this skill is, it is not exactly conducive to savoring one’s food.
While the experts all recommend making a conscious effort to put down your utensils in between bites, the temptation to “shovel” can be hard to break. There are other ways to force yourself to slow down, however, and entertain yourself in the process. The first is to adopt the use of chopsticks. Not only will this force you to take breaks between mouthfuls, but mastering the art of eating with these tricky tools will definitely up your cool factor when eating in public places.
“6 Ways to Slow Down and Savor Your Food” recommends eating with your non-dominant hand. While this will increase your focus on your meal, it will also provide comic relief to your fellow diners. And everyone needs a good laugh.
And, when all else fails, think back to your childhood eating experiences. Food was fun. It was delivered to your mouth via a fork-turned-airplane. It was often strewn in all directions. And, when you were really lucky, it wore a smile.
If money and time (and calories) were no object, what meal would you eat more often?