Part 2 of "2-bites"

In addition to taking two bites of something and walking away, the exercise also asked that throughout the day to notice if the rest of your food has the same impact as the first two bites.  I'm doing this with my lunch:

I have baby gherkin pickles.  The first two bites were absolutely mouth-watering and actually quite thrilling (yeah, I know it's only pickles - but they come in little single-serve tubs and it's the first time I have ever had these with a lunch that I packed).  The rest of them were actually quite tasty but I do have to admit that the first two bites were the best.

Then I moved on to my "side" of Weight Watchers baked salsa chips.  The first two bites I could taste the salsa flavoring.  Also I thoroughly enjoyed the crunch.  As I progressed through my lunch they became "just" something on the side.  Since I seemed to be into little tubs of things today, the chips led me to open my little Tostitos salsa and then the chips became only a vehicle for the salsa.  I think I enjoyed the whole experience more than I would have if celery or carrots were the vehicle, but it also made the chips fade into the background.

On to my sandwich: whole wheat pita bread, Dijon mustard, lettuce, mild banana pepper rings, oh and yes, the turkey.   First bite - could taste all the flavors mingling gently.  A nice sandwich.  Second bite - also good.  Actually, because this exercise forced me to slow down eating I enjoyed all the sandwich which I think is unusual.  After wolfing down the first couple of bites of a sandwich I am usually on automatic.  But I do have to say, again, the first two bites were the best.

On to the salad.  I didn't realize it until I actually took one bite, chewed, swallowed and took the next one, that this is not how I usually approach a salad.  I usually shovel it in, taking the next forkful before I've swallowed the one before.  I really do love salad, it's not a chore to eat it every day.  But if I love it, why don't I savor it more?  

What did I learn?  Slow down and enjoy.  You really have to pay attention to taste anything after the first couple of bites!  It also backed my view that it's never about the food.  I think when we wolf down food we just don't taste it.  If it really was about the food we would ALL eat slowly and actually savor every bite, but we don't, do we? 

Also I just wanted to direct you to a great book.  Yesterday I mentioned that I had heard the phrase "You've come too far to take orders from a cookie."  Flo noted that she used that phrase and shared it with her very first WW leader.  I had read it from this book: Thin Tastes Better by Stephan Gullo.  It is a wonderful book, and recommend it highly. 

Now on to finishing lunch!

Miriam