Scarf.  You may think of that soft, gray, cashmere wrap you wear around your neck to keep out the pernicious winds.  Maybe it brings to mind the gauzy, light as cotton candy, scarves that can be worn with tank top and flips.  Or, maybe the Burberry scarf your aunt brought you back from the UK.  But, I'm not here to chat about fashion, although we could.  I'm talking about eating.

Could we really eat any faster?  They've named an entire industry after it. Order faster, eat faster, and get back to work, dang it.  There is no time to enjoy your meal...you're busy, you're multi-tasking.  While you're doing nothing except eating, check Facebook, play online solitaire, text 5 friends, pay your rent.  Do not pay attention to eating.  That's today's norm. 

I did a 3-day cleanse some years ago.  For me, going without food is big deal so 3 days seemed like forever.   You'd think that after fasting, you'd b-line it for the closest Dominos or Micky D's for some real sustenance.  You deserved it after suffering for days without food. 

Much to my surprise, after 3 days of semi-enjoying organic fruit and vegetables juices and teas, I took one tiny bite of an apple and it took 90 second to chew it.  I really tasted the apple, savoring the opposing sweet/tart juices.  For the next few days, I actually did eat slower and was more conscious about the food I chose to eat.  Sadly, it wasn't long before I was mindlessly putting food into la boca, chomping it down, and reloading.  

If you're like me, we could use a bit of slowing down while eating.  It's hard, I've tried.  For a few bites, I eat consciously, the back to scarfing it in.  As a reminder, here are some tips for eating more intentionally, slowly and purposefully......Check out this list from Jan Chozen Bays(1).  I put in the "pauses".  

1.  Look at each item of food, taking it in with the eyes. Notice colors, textures, shapes, arrangement on the plate or bowl.

Pause

2. Take a moment to say grace. Thank the animals, plants, and people who brought this food to you. Be aware of their gifts as you eat.

Pause

3. Begin the meal by pausing to inhale the fragrance of the food. Imagine that you are being nourished by just the smell.

Pause

4. Eat food like a wine connoisseur tastes wine. First sniff the food, enjoying the bouquet. Then take a small taste. Roll it around in the mouth, savoring it. What ingredients can you detect? Chew slowly and swallow. Take a sip of water to cleanse the palate. When the mouth is empty of food and flavor, repeat the process.

Pause

5. If you notice that you are eating without tasting, stop and pause to look at the food again.

No. 4 speaks to me.  I have the unappealing habit of inserting food before I've finished the last bite.  Because I eat many of my meals standing at the counter or in front of the fridge, I often don't see a plate.  I could learn a lot by keeping this list with me, don't you think?  Maybe I'll print it out and try again with each bite.