Slow Bites Project 4 Week Two

Imagine your favorite meal. What is on your plate? Pasta? Salmon? Sweet corn? Garden fresh tomatoes? Fruit salad? Sourdough bread? And what is for desert? Peach pie? Chocolate mousse? Now imagine that same favorite meal going into a blender and being poured in a bowl for your dining pleasure. If your reaction is not one of pleasure you are not alone. But isn’t it all the same thing when it comes to nutritional value?

A study cited in Marc David’s The Slow Down Diet gave a group of Thai women two versions of a favorite Thai meal. The first version was a regular full course meal fresh out of the pan. The second version was the same meal put in a blender and turned to mush before serving. The iron absorption was then measured after each meal and it was found that the women absorbed 70% less iron in the blended meal. Apparently the pleasure taken in a meal makes a real difference in our body’s ability to benefit from the nutrients in food. God built us to enjoy our food.

Benefits you may experience from Slow Bites Project:
1.Improved absorption of nutrients.
2.Increased pleasure
3.Greater ability to direct your thoughts
4.Awareness of God’s presence

You may have noticed that Slow Bites is a sub-project of Here and Now for 2-10.
We are seeking to train our minds to be here and now with what is right under our nose (or in our mouth). Being fully present with an experience like eating will increase our ability to be fully here and now with the God who is with us right here and now.

I’ve found Slow Bites to be challenging in two ways.
1.Speed eating is my natural mode. Slowing down to pay attention takes determined intention.
2.Remembering. The first week I found myself done with a meal, when I remembered, “Oh yea, I was supposed to pay attention to that meal.” After a few days I started to remember in the middle of the meal and now (after a month at it) I frequently remember at the start.

Ideas? Put a picture of Jesus on the table to remember who is dining with you. Put a sticky note in the silverware drawer or in the fridge. Set the table differently as a visual reminder.

How is it going for you? Tell someone in our sculpting group your challenges and solutions. And what you bit.

“For health and strength and daily bread we give you thanks, oh God.”