Enjoy foods more and eat less…It’s possible!

Start by asking yourself a question.

Why do you eat the foods you think you should be limiting? Or the foods you are apt to eat too much of?  It’s not a trick question, and no one will know your answer, so be honest with yourself.

Was “because I like it”  or “because it tastes good” one of your top reasons? It is for many of us!  It’s certainly true for me.

Sure, there are things we eat because we should. There are also dishes we eat to keep from offending someone. (You know what I mean!) Sometimes we emotionally eat.  Chances are, however, there are foods you eat because you enjoy the way they taste.

So why do we cheat ourselves out of enjoying them?

Yet many of us are cheating ourselves out of full enjoyment of what we eat. It’s true.  Just imagine if you could double the pleasure you get from your favorite foods, desserts, or snacks and actually eat less of them.  It’s possible!

Understanding how your body works is the key to enjoying food more

One of the things I love doing is helping people to understand how to make their body work with them instead of against them. Often this means talking about metabolism, hormones, or their gut microbiome. In this case, it’s helping you to understand how your body works and how a slight change can make your life more enjoyable.

Understanding how you taste

When you eat something and like it your brain has decided that what you have in your mouth is pleasing. While texture and aroma play a role in this, taste is a crucial factor.

Here’s the easy way to think about it. Think back to the last time you had something that smelled wonderful but tasted far less enjoyable than you imagined it would. That’s aroma versus taste.

You taste something because the food in your mouth has triggered some of the approximately 10,000 or more taste receptors in your mouth. Most of them are located in the taste buds on your tongue. The longer the food stays in contact with your tongue, the more frequently those taste receptors are stimulated and the more you get to enjoy the taste of the food.

Stop cheating yourself out of taste and eat less

If you’re like most people in our busy world today, you chew your food only a few times and swallow it. The second that food moves from your mouth to your throat, you are mostly done tasting it.

Yes, there’s still some aroma coming into play at the back of your mouth, and there are a few taste buds at the back of your throat, but the majority of your tasting experience is over. To experience it again you need more food in your mouth, and that means more calories.

That’s like paying full price for something and only getting 25% of what you paid for!  Would you settle for that?

Here’s how to enjoy your food more and eat less!

So one secret to getting more enjoyment from your food and eating smaller portions is this:

Keep food in your mouth longer.  Chew more.  Since your taste buds will be exposed to the food for longer, you get more taste to enjoy!

Making it happen…

The solution sounds easy, but in reality, our busy lives can make this difficult.  One of the things my coach approach does is to help you discover the techniques and build the skills that enable you to do this.

What many people have found when working with me is that they get more enjoyment from their favorite foods even while they are eating smaller portions of them. So set up an appointment or a discovery call so you can enjoy your food more!

Looking for other ways to eat healthier, eat less, or have a healthier gut?

The key to success is understanding how to work with your body and brain. Changing how we eat is about far more than food choices, calories, and how much or how often we eat something. Download your free copy of “5 Secrets to Successfully Changing How You Eat” by clicking here.