Are you snacking on the run, cramming lunch down during a ten-minute break or mindlessly munching in front of a screen? If so, you’re not alone. Speed eating is all too common in our society. But this habit has many unhealthy side affects: poor digestion, weight gain, discomfort after meals, fatigue.  If practiced over time, speed eating may lead to obesity and a severe disconnection with our food, which affects not only our physical but also our mental and emotion health.

Five reasons to slow down:

An Introduction by Lilian:

Blueberries are a favorite fruit of mine. They’re delicious and healthful – packed with fiber and antioxidants. For me, their bloom signifies that summer has truly begun.

On May 22, I had the pleasure of talking with Jamie Oliver after he received the Healthy Cup Award from the Harvard School of Public Health. He is as warm-hearted and compassionate in person as he is on TV, and I was touched by his fervor to help kids around the world lead healthier, longer lives.

I came away from our meeting understanding one point above all else: He inspires each and every person to take responsibility for transforming our food system.

There are many food sources of protein, both plant and animal based, but they are not all equal. To choose healthy protein-rich foods, we must pay attention to the other nutrients that travel along with the protein we consume.  When we expand our view of health to encompass our environment and planet, it becomes even more clear that plant-based proteins are the most mindful choice.

Our global community is stuck in a cycle of unhealthy suffering. We treat our bodies like afterthoughts, and as a result, we are in the midst of a tragic obesity epidemic. It is clear that diets aren’t working, yet we continue to deprive ourselves of food, only to gain more weight. (For statistics on the inefficacy of dieting, watch the Hungry for Less video below.)

A delicious yet simple greek recipe by Diane Kochilas, as presented at the Culinary Institute of America's 2012 Worlds of Healthy Flavors Retreat.

Ingredients:

Food packaging and diet trends can be misleading.  Marketing materials often lead us to believe that if we eat low-fat foods, we will be low fat too. But for many people, low-fat diets just don’t work.

In our first interview with Mondo Samu, we asked him how it feels to have lost 100lbs with mindful eating and living over the last year. He spoke of mental and physical agility and stamina + how mindfulness has improved his relationships. Here we dig a little deeper - he shares with us what tools and knowledge have been most helpful in this journey.