How We Eat - Paleo or Barbaric?

Much is written is about what we eat and not so much on how we eat. A popular diet right now is a Paleo diet, like our hunter gatherer ancestors ate, whole foods focusing on protein and vegetables and no sugar or processed food. But little emphasis is placed on how we eat. With our busy lives, let's throw everything into a smoothie and drink it while we commute or eat our lunch working at our desk or chow down fast food looking at our smart phones and the classic starting in the 1950s - eating tv dinners in front of the television.  

I hosted a friend and professional colleague a few years ago, raised in France who came to SF Bay Area for two days of interviews for a high level position.  He made 2 observations that I remember: 1] he gave a presentation during a catered lunch meeting and everyone was eating and drinking and he felt that the audience was not paying much attention to his presentation.  He didn't understand this American custom to eat and work at the same time 2) he had never seen drive-thru fast food and was horrified that people would eat in their cars off their laps - he called it "BARBARIC". 

Tips on how to eat. People are so busy, eating means ripping open a bag or downing that smoothie in a few minutes. DO take a moment to be mindful and grateful - as a Girl Scout whenever we ate together at camp, before every meal we would sing grace such as "the Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need, the sun and the rain and the appleseed". In many cultures, it is important to take a moment to show appreciation and gratitude for the nourishment the food provides our body by saying a simple grace.  

​DO NOT multi-task, put away the smart phones, magazine, work, television - better option is to find someone to eat with and have a nice conversation while eating.  Try not stand over the kitchen sink and eat your meal. Being mindful about how we are eating will often help us to make better choices about what we are eating.

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