During my vacation a couple of weeks ago, I met some new friends from various countries. Several of them were from North America while one was from Europe. We had the chance to have dinner together and I realized some things while we ate. We had ordered a big meal – we didn’t know that the servings were going to be that big!

As we ate, I noticed that the guys from North America started wolfing down the food while the guy from Europe took his time. The discussion eventually touched on eating habits. The guy from Europe explained that in his country, they took meals leisurely and would sit down for hours at the dinner table. On the other hand, the guys from across the ocean noted that though this is also done in their country, they normally don’t have the time to eat slowly.

At the end of the meal, everyone was very full. There was a huge difference, though. The European felt energetic while the others felt bloated!

Do you see where I am getting at? Eating slowly may be better for your health! According to some researchers at the University of Rhode Island at Kingston, if you eat more slowly, you can consume up to 70 calories fewer than those who eat fast. Well that makes sense. In addition to that, however, eating more slowly can help you savor the flavors of your meal. This in itself can bring you a more enjoyable dining experience. At the very least, you will avoid a stomachache if you do not gulp your food down…

Originally posted on November 25, 2010 @ 1:28 pm