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When it comes down to it, who doesn’t enjoy sitting down and tucking into a delicious meal?
As human beings – and for that matter, as living organisms – food is an essential component in our ability to survive, thrive, and have a positive overall experience of the world.
For many of us, though, food can end up being a bit of an afterthought – something to squeeze in around the more significant priorities and obligations of the day.
By taking a different approach, and striving to get the most out of your meals you possibly can, however, you are likely to experience all sorts of benefits – ranging from things like improved health and energy, to a greater appreciation of your food.
Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your meals.
Treat each meal as a mindful occasion instead of snacking on the go
One of the worst habits that anyone can have when it comes to their relationship to food, is to avoid sitting down for proper meals at set times, and to instead simply snack on the go, or to otherwise eat as quickly as possible in order to make more time for productivity.
Sitting down to mindfully enjoy your food and to treat your meals as an event to enjoy, can massively improve your appreciation of your food.
The benefits don’t end there, though. Because it turns out that chewing each mouthful of food thoroughly before swallowing significantly improves the digestive process, and can help you to feel more energised, rather than more lethargic, after eating.
So, seriously consider sticking to set meal times, taking the time to savour your food and to chew properly, and stop having rushed lunches at your work desk.
Explore different cuisines and expand your palate
From roasted delicata squash, to aromatic vegetable curries, the world contains all sorts of amazing regional cuisines that each have their distinct flavour profiles.
One way of making the most out of your meals, is to make a point of exploring different cuisines and expanding your palate, instead of simply eating the same staple foodstuffs over and over again.
This also implies making room for cooking in your life, and getting more involved with the process of preparing your meals from scratch, too.
Each meal should be something that you look forward to, and it should be a moment of joy in your day – not just something that you do because you have to.
Eat a variety of vegetables with your meals
Eating a variety of vegetables and plant foods has been found to be the basis of a healthy gut Microbiome – and is associated with all sorts of health benefits.
Eating a broad variety of vegetables and plant foods in your diet can help to make you more energetic, can help to make you feel less stressed, and can help to improve your health and overall sense of well-being, too.
When comparisons are done between individuals living in developed nations and eating the “Standard American Diet,” and individuals eating more traditional diets in rural regions of Africa, for example, the finding has been that the city-dwellers were getting almost no fibre or plant foods in their diet by comparison.
Put more veggies on your plate, and see what difference it makes.
