ng

Swallow

Smile

Repeat.

This holiday season, I encourage you to approach your meals with excitement. Instead of looking at those mashed potatoes in terms of calories and fat grams, look at them with gratitude and express love for whoever cooked them (and if that's you, then give yourself some lovin'). Know that you will eat them slowly and with care, taking note of when you're full and enjoying every bite.

Connect with the fact that we are blessed to worry about eating too much when so many are worried about not having e

With Thanksgiving in a couple days and Christmas, Hannukah and the other big eating days ahead, you've probably seen a few articles recently telling you how to survive the holidays without resorting to elastic waistbands. Those articles are great and are filled with practical tips, like eating the special holiday foods and ignoring the boring, everyday foods. But this article isn’t full of holiday tips. Nope, today I have only one suggestion, only one recommendation as you enter the next few weeks of holiday excitement...

Chew!

Yup, that's it: chew. Chew your food. I know, it sounds ridiculously simple, right? How could chewing your food possibly help you enjoy the holidays without gaining the winter wonder-weight? How can chewing your food help you stay calm in the face of crazy Uncle Sam and sleeping on Mom’s couch?

For starters, chewing actually produces endorphins, the chemicals in our brain that create good feelings. Chewing is also helpful for weight loss because when we are chewing well, we eat slower and are more able to feel when we are full. In fact, chewing can even promote healing and circulation, enhance immunity, increase energy and endurance, and improve skin health.

You might be thinking, "Well, duh, I already chew! How else would I eat?" Great question!

Most of us don't consciously chew. It's a bit like breathing; we do it but we don't realize we're doing it. In fact, most people describe their eating style as "inhaling" or "shoveling" and most do it while reading, checking the internet or watching TV.

But what would happen if you actually focused on the act of chewing? How would that change your eating experience?

Give your food the attention that it deserves and chew, chew, chew.

Here are a few tips to consciously chew:

Before eating, take 5 deep breaths

Give thanks for the food you’re about to eat, for the energy it's about to give you and for the tastes you're about to experience

Take a small bite and chew

Put your fork down

Let the textures and flavors swirl around your mouth

Chew 30 times (if this seems like a lot, try for 20 first and then build up)

Keep breathing

Keep chewing

Swallow

Smile

Repeat.

This holiday season, I encourage you to approach your meals with excitement. Instead of looking at those mashed potatoes in terms of calories and fat grams, look at them with gratitude and express love for whoever cooked them (and if that's you, then give yourself some lovin'). Know that you will eat them slowly and with care, taking note of when you're full and enjoying every bite.

Connect with the fact that we are blessed to worry about eating too much when so many are worried about not having en

it: chew. Chew your food. I know, it sounds ridiculously simple, right? How could chewing your food possibly help you enjoy the holidays without gaining the winter wonder-weight? How can chewing your food help you stay calm in the face of crazy Uncle Sam and sleeping on Mom’s couch?

For starters, chewing actually produces endorphins, the chemicals in our brain that create good feelings. Chewing is also helpful for weight loss because when we are chewing well, we eat slower and are more able to feel when we are full. In fact, chewing can even promote healing and circulation, enhance immunity, increase energy and endurance, and improve skin health.

You might be thinking, "Well, duh, I already chew! How else would I eat?" Great question!

Most of us don't consciously chew. It's a bit like breathing; we do it but we don't realize we're doing it. In fact, most people describe their eating style as "inhaling" or "shoveling" and most do it while reading, checking the internet or watching TV.

But what would happen if you actually focused on the act of chewing? How would that change your eating experience?

Give your food the attention that it deserves and chew, chew, chew.

Here are a few tips to consciously chew:

Before eating, take 5 deep breaths

Give thanks for the food you’re about to eat, for the energy it's about to give you and for the tastes you're about to experience

Take a small bite and chew

Put your fork down

Let the textures and flavors swirl around your mouth

Chew 30 times (if this seems like a lot, try for 20 first and then build up)

Keep breathing

Keep chewing

Swallow

Smile

Repeat.

This holiday season, I encourage you to approach your meals with excitement. Instead of looking at those mashed potatoes in terms of calories and fat grams, look at them with gratitude and express love for whoever cooked them (and if that's you, then give yourself some lovin'). Know that you will eat them slowly and with care, taking note of when you're full and enjoying every bite.

Connect with the fact that we are blessed to worry about eating too much when so many are worried about not having e

mote healing and circulation, enhance immunity, increase energy and endurance, and improve skin health.

You might be thinking, "Well, duh, I already chew! How else would I eat?" Great question!

Most of us don't consciously chew. It's a bit like breathing; we do it but we don't realize we're doing it. In fact, most people describe their eating style as "inhaling" or "shoveling" and most do it while reading, checking the internet or watching TV.

But what would happen if you actually focused on the act of chewing? How would that change your eating experience?

Give your food the attention that it deserves and chew, chew, chew.

Here are a few tips to consciously chew:

Before eating, take 5 deep breaths

Give thanks for the food you’re about to eat, for the energy it's about to give you and for the tastes you're about to experience

Take a small bite and chew

Put your fork down

Let the textures and flavors swirl around your mouth

Chew 30 times (if this seems like a lot, try for 20 first and then build up)

Keep breathing

Keep chewing

Swallow

Smile

Repeat.

This holiday season, I encourage you to approach your meals with excitement. Instead of looking at those mashed potatoes in terms of calories and fat grams, look at them with gratitude and express love for whoever cooked them (and if that's you, then give yourself some lovin'). Know that you will eat them slowly and with care, taking note of when you're full and enjoying every bite.

Connect with the fact that we are blessed to worry about eating too much when so many are worried about not having e

our eating experience?

Give your food the attention that it deserves and chew, chew, chew.

Here are a few tips to consciously chew:

Before eating, take 5 deep breaths

Give thanks for the food you’re about to eat, for the energy it's about to give you and for the tastes you're about to experience

Take a small bite and chew

Put your fork down

Let the textures and flavors swirl around your mouth

Chew 30 times (if this seems like a lot, try for 20 first and then build up)

Keep breathing

Keep chewing

Swallow

Smile

Repeat.

This holiday season, I encourage you to approach your meals with excitement. Instead of looking at those mashed potatoes in terms of calories and fat grams, look at them with gratitude and express love for whoever cooked them (and if that's you, then give yourself some lovin'). Know that you will eat them slowly and with care, taking note of when you're full and enjoying every bite.

Connect with the fact that we are blessed to worry about eating too much when so many are worried about not having e

ng

Swallow

Smile

Repeat.

This holiday season, I encourage you to approach your meals with excitement. Instead of looking at those mashed potatoes in terms of calories and fat grams, look at them with gratitude and express love for whoever cooked them (and if that's you, then give yourself some lovin'). Know that you will eat them slowly and with care, taking note of when you're full and enjoying every bite.

Connect with the fact that we are blessed to worry about eating too much when so many are worried about not having enough.

Breathe.

Look around your Thanksgiving dinner table and know that each person there has shaped who you are today, and thank them for the role they've played in your life. Smile. Know you are blessed.

Eat your favorite foods with passion and pleasure. Let the flavors take you back and celebrate how far you've come.

And chew. Chew, chew, chew.