Mamma Always Said "Chew Your Food Slowly...."

And you know what? She was right. A recent survey found that people who scarf down food until they feel they are full are 3 times more likely to be overweight.

So, it's not just what we eat but how we eat that makes a difference in our midsections. Think back to your last meal...did you eat it on the run, like when you were driving your car? Or, while watching tv or checking your email? Did you eat all of your food just because it was there? Or, did you stop when you felt full?

Surrounded by fast food options, and constantly trying to stay afloat in our time crunched schedules, many of us go with what we think will be easy and fast. We're hungry and we want our food NOW! And, in the rush of it all we forget why we're fueling our bodies....for energy. But, when we eat fast, we don't give our bodies time to feel full. We just eat and eat until the food is gone, or until our feeling of fullness kicks in and we realize too late that we feel too full and bloated.

Try this at your next meal: Turn off the tv, sit down, put your papers and computer away. And, enjoy your dinner. Take at least 15 minutes to eat your meal, catch up with your spouse and kids on how their days went. Eat slowly and enjoy each bite. Take a drink of water between every two or three bites, and after you finish eating just sit for a couple of minutes. Your body will tell you when it's full.

It might be challenging to do this, when your mind starts to wander and all of the "to-do's" on your list start filtering in, or you suddenly remember that your favorite show is on. But, just give it a try. If it means saving a couple hundred calories, isn't it worth it?