Get those dopamine pleasure molecules
working overtime by really savoring each mouthful. The more you enjoy
the experience of eating, the more satisfied you will be. The more you
enjoy it, the easier it will be to establish it as a behavior.
Prepare your food in advance and put some energy into
making it appealing. You will enjoy it more if there is anticipation.
Spend some time looking at it and enjoying the colors and smells. Even
if you eat a cantaloupe, cut it into squares and chill in the freezer
for 15 minutes.
Eat Hungry.
We eat three times the amount of food we need to maintain health. The
food most people eat in one day could sustain an entire family in Africa
for one day.
Do not confuse natural hunger for cravings. A
growling stomach with a ‘blah’ taste in the mouth is not hunger.
Eating to relieve grumbling, gastric irritation will leave you feeling
sluggish and lethargic. Wait until you are hungry. You won't die of
starvation. You can do it. Most people have experienced true hunger only
few times in their life. Face hunger. It may seem like Goliath, but if
you put up a fight, he'll run. If you are not hungry, miss a meal. Skip
breakfast or the occasional meal and feel the intensity of hunger as it
builds readiness. During hunger, the sinuses clear, the stomach becomes
ready and sense of smell becomes acute. Best of all, taste is enhanced.
Eating hungry gives more satisfaction, even a burst of energy and a
feeling of well being if you eat healthy food. Wait until your body
needs nutrition, eat raw foods, and chew your food well. If you eat this
way, you will not have the desire to keep eating, but will be satisfied
with smaller portions. And, that is the way it should be.
If gastric irritation becomes uncomfortable, eat a
small amount of fruit or vegetable to help relieve it.
Chew, Chew, and Chew.
Isn't chewing great? It’s way better than swallowing. We make
swallowing the big event, but it's the anticlimax. Chewing is the
build-up, the anticipation. As the digestive enzymes in saliva start
their work, the food changes flavor with each chew exploding more
taste sensations. Soft warm textures massage the tongue. Digestion
starts in the mouth and so does contentment. Explore chewing, it is a
mouthful of excitement. It greatly increases the health value of the
food. Aim for thirty chews to the
gulp.
Eat Stress-Free.
A plate of worry is bad for the belly. Turn on some relaxing music and
take your meal to bed. Go outside if it is warm. Let go and be at
peace before you eat. Slow down, do not rush, and enjoy each mouthful.
Do not let your mind drift to problems and worries. If you are going
to eat, pay attention to eating. If you are going to worry, stop and
worry. Give yourself a few minutes to worry and get it out of your
system. Be present, be aware of the taste, of your breathing, of how
the food feels in the stomach. Enjoy the experience as much as
possible. The more you enjoy it, the more satisfied you will be.
Feel Good as You Eat.
Feel good about your accomplishment. You are eating health-giving
food with discipline. Be proud of that accomplishment. Take the time to
enjoy being content with feeling full.
Be Thankful. Food has been brought from all over
the world just for your benefit. We have much to be thankful for.
Love the Foods that Love You. Look your food
straight in the eye and ask it a question: "Do you love me? Will
you support my cells and care for me in old age? Are you loving my body
or is your love artificial? Do you really love me or are you just
flirting with my taste buds?" If you want to be healthy, love
the foods that love you.
Eat Simple. The silkworm lives on mulberry
leaves. The koala lives on eucalyptus leaves. Cows live on grass and do
just fine. Humans are the only creatures in the known universe who eat
every food type in the same meal. Because of it we burp, expel gas and
kill our colon with abuse. Stomach ulcers are just part of the fun. Aim
for a simpler diet; your stomach will love you for it.
Eat in the Raw. Cooking kills! As you drop your
veggies into a pot of boiling water listen closely. You can hear the
enzymes screaming with pain as they die. That poor little enzyme was
just trying to build your health. Your body and mind will feel amazing
if you can get your diet up to 80% raw. Give enzymes a break.
Spice is Not Nice. Overuse of spices is hard on
the stomach. Salt, pepper and white vinegar are addictive. Food becomes
tasteless and bland without them. It is best to use spices in
moderation.