Bowls & Cones, Forks & Knives: Eating Method Matters
Ice cream is delicious, right?! (Lactose-intolerants and dairy haters, shh.)
I’m fanatical about Blue Bell’s ice cream — the delicious creamery in my home state of Texas.
When my college crew team when to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for spring training, I’d buy gallons and evangelically force spoonfuls upon my teammates and coaches.
But even though the best ice cream is sold for at-home consumption (Italian gelato aside), I’ve long preferred going out for ice cream.
When I’ve got a bowl and spoon in hand, I’m capable of inhaling an ungodly amount of frozen dairy products.
My body, however, isn’t so capable of feeling great afterwards. My gut is stuffed and my conscience is guilty (especially with that damn nutrition label lurking nearby).
But with a cone, I’m limited to the speed of licking.
I’m also usually walking around somewhere, so I’m not only eating slower, I’m exercising. Clearly, the calories can’t even count!!!
Ice cream isn’t the only food where method matters.
Being single means eating a lot of meals alone, often at home. It’s easy to put on a tv show and zone out, mindlessly consuming and then wanting more because my mind doesn’t fully experience what I’ve eaten.
Eating while traveling is one of my main hobbies, and when I’m alone (yes, again), it’s easy to shovel food with my right hand while scrolling through something on my phone in my left.
But over the past couple years, I’ve started trying to discipline myself not to multitask when eating, even if I’m on my own. To focus on the food in front of me, take a breath between bites to observe my surroundings, and let my mind wander.
For the past 3 weeks, I’ve been living in Paris, France. I noticed my French friends always eat with both their fork and knife, and somehow it seemed necessary to use both at almost every meal, even if I’d normally only use a fork alone.
As I’ve committed both hands to the eating experience, it’s changed the pace and attention of my dining. I neatly arrange a bite onto the fork using the knife, and I try to keep my devices off (or banish them from the table entirely).
I enjoy the meal more. I taste the food better. I eat a little slower.
And (bonus!) I actually feel full and crave less after I finish. Conscious eating basically makes me a #hero. Come at me #blessed bloggers.
We say the French know how to eat, but we’re not just talking about how delicious the food is. It’s also their approach to the experience of eating.
When you elevate something from mindless routine to a conscious devotion, it’s more pleasurable and fulfilling.
How you do things makes a difference.
Katherine works remotely while she travels the world — on the road since June 2014. If you liked this piece, please give it a ❤ Thank you!
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