One of my goals recently has been to correct my habit of eating meals in a stressed, hurried state. Since becoming a mom, I find myself putting dinner on the table in a hurry, jumping up and down to fetch things for the kids, and shoving a few bites in my mouth in between playing waitress for the rest of the family.
Despite eating healthy food, I have symptoms of poor digestion. I know that eating in a stressed fight-or-flight state negatively impacts digestion.
~Stomach acid secretion is suppressed.
~Blood sugar dysregulation causes spikes and crashes in blood sugar.
~Not chewing food adequately (20-30 chews per bite) lowers nutrient absorption.
HOW I'm eating could be negating the potential benefits of WHAT I'm eating.
Here are 3 things I've been doing to slow down, de-stress, and eat in a more peaceful state:
1- Make sure everything is on the table before sitting down.
Ketchup? Check. Napkins? Check. Jar of milk to refill glasses? Check. Towel to wipe up the spilled milk? Yep, going to need that.
2- Pray before the meal.
Not only does gratitude literally improve digestion but taking a second to pause, breath deeply, and smell the food helps me anticipate and enjoy the meal more. Since starting this habit, my kids have helped me remember when I forget- even if we're in the middle of the meal!
3- Light a candle and dim the lights.
I don't need scientific evidence to tell me that a flickering beeswax candle increases my feelings of peace by 400%.
P.S. If you need a non-toxic candle for your table, we have handmade pure beeswax candles here on Glory Garden.
I'm not here to tell you I've got this all figured out, I'm just sharing a few things that have been helping me. I hope this ideas bring peace and gratitude to your family meals!