Slow down and enjoy: Why not to rush a meal

I recently read and posted on an article I really enjoyed about a writer who learned how to eat right, appreciate delicious and healthy food and NOT put on weight during a summer spent in the Mediterranean. One of the things the author mentions is that meals in Greece take longer, meaning she ate slowly and was really able to enjoy the flavors in the food, and also realize that she was full before scarfing down way too much tzatziki, spanakopita and moussaka.

After reading that piece, this post by Marisa McClellan at Slashfood about an entire article that extols the many virtues of eating slowly, really piqued my interest. In addition to helping you lose weight through consuming fewer calories (if you eat slower, you eat less!) and allowing you to really enjoy your meal, the piece says that taking your time when eating leads to improved digestion (you chew your food more thoroughly), helps lower stress (concentrating on your food keeps you from thinking of everything else you've got going on) and lets you rebel against fast food (if you're willing to spend time on a meal, you're more likely to spend it on a good one).

It may take some practice, especially for those who grew up in big families where eating slowly meant having your food snapped up by a hungry sibling, but all of the reasons listed in the article make it sound like taking 30 minutes out of your day to enjoy a meal is totally worthwhile.