Always dress up your meal!

I love watching my dog eat, in a weird kind of way in which I am mortified and curious at the same time. You see, I open up a package of chicken necks and toss out about a half pound of meat onto the grass outside and it takes him approximately 2.2 seconds to chomp and scarf the food down into his cute little belly.

Thankfully, most of us humans don't eat this way. (Actually, I had a boyfriend that did, and I loved watching him eat as well! In that weird kind of way..)

And when we do, what happens? Acid reflux, indigestion, gas, bloating, malaise, ect. You know what I'm talking about. I worked at restaurants as a server for a few years and it took a lot of intention and practice to slow myself down after so many nights of shoveling food in between tasks.

Here's what I propose to you: challenge yourself to eat slowly and really enjoy your food! Food is beautiful. Food is colorful. Food provides us with the energy to follow our passions. Let's give it the respect it deserves!

One easy way to start is to present your food in such a way that it helps you slow down and be grateful for it's presence. I don't care if it's rack of lamb or leftover pizza for dinner! Make it look pretty.

Why? Dressing up your food with a beautiful presentation brings your consciousness into what you are about to fill yourself with. You may find yourself eating slower without trying. You may find that you are better able to identify fullness signals and stop eating sooner than if you ate quickly, without thought.

Before we eat, the act of seeing and smelling food activates our "cephalic phase". Which is a fancy way of saying: our body prepares for the food by getting the digestive juices going! We need these juices to properly digest our food and to get all the nutrients we need out of it. Rushing into eating and eating quickly does not ramp up our digestive system as well as slowing down and putting time into the preparation.

Also, putting intention into our eating, or "mindful eating" has the additional component of keeping the blood flow where we want it, in our gut!

Having an argument while eating, or watching tv and the like, shunts blood flow from our gut and compromises digestion! Don't believe me? Give it a try. Eat stressed out one day, then eat relaxed and slow another day - pay attention to how you feel for a full hour after your meal. Gassy and tired? Or energized and happy?

Food is more than nutrients. Food is a connection to the Earth, to ourselves, and to our loved ones. Taking time for a meal and making it look beautiful can enrich your life in so many ways. Let me know YOUR favorite way to take time for yourself and eat mindfully!

Easy ideas for dressing up your dish:

• Add a garnish
• Add color!
• Sit at the table to eat
• Put your meal on your "special occasion" dishes every day
• Arrange, stack, position components in an eye pleasing manner
• Always display food as if you were at a fancy restaurant

(Photos: brussel sprout greens with tomatoes and onions, eggplant relish on crustinis, tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich, and shrimp over whole wheat pasta and mustard greens)