Our friends over at Inc. recently published the article, “9 Daily Habits That Will Make You Happier.” And while all of the nine habits are awesome ideas, one stood out to me as frankly the best health advice I’ve received in a really long time. Here it is:
Eat high quality food slowly.
Sometimes we can’t avoid scarfing something quick to keep us up and running. Even so, at least once a day try to eat something really delicious, like a small chunk of fine cheese or an imported chocolate. Focus on it; taste it; savor it.
It’s reminiscent of Michael Pollan’s “eat food, mostly plants, not too much” advice from his book “Food Rules.” But it takes that advice even one step further. It’s not just about eating real food, and it’s not just about watching your portion control. It’s about LOVING the food you eat, and savoring it with all you have. If you truly fill your body with high quality, incredible food that fills you up both physically and with joy, you’ll inevitably find yourself eating less of those “filler foods” we tend to binge on so often. If you’re allowing yourself to eat an incredibly high quality piece of dark chocolate that you had to both find and pay a premium for, you’re never going to follow it with a huge bag of random milk chocolate candy. The same goes for Cheetos and slices of “cheese food.” If you’re allowing yourself to have the best cheeses, the best breads, that are artisan and delicious and savory all in one, you’re not going to binge on dinner rolls just anywhere.
Whether it’s just for a few days or for a week, consider paying more attention to the quality of your food and the pace at which you’re eating it, rather than counting calories or fat content. It will make a huge difference in your diet and ultimately in your health.
About the Author: Marcy Twete
Marcy Twete is the Founder and CEO of Career Girl Network and the author of the book “You Know Everybody! A Career Girl’s Guide to Building a Network That Works.” At Career Girl Network, Marcy provides women with information, resources, and networking to empower them in their careers and to advance the work of women in business as a whole. Prior to launching Career Girl Network, Marcy worked in numerous nonprofit organizations and as a consultant in the field of nonprofit fundraising, marketing, and community relations. Marcy is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and a native of rural North Dakota. She is the Vice Chair of the Chicago Board of Directors for Step Up Women’s Network in Chicago and a member of the Advisory Board for Girls on the Run Twin Cities, and is dedicated to advancing the work of organizations that move the needle for women and girls worldwide.
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