If it’s Worth Eating, it’s Worth Tasting (Sugar Sober Series)

9

October 8, 2014 by Beth Hess

Perhaps one of the biggest wastes in regards to the volumes of food I sometimes consume is that I don’t taste most of it.

This thought occurred to me today with the first bite of a really lovely meatball. Firm but moist. Soft enough to nearly melt in my mouth. Seasonings subtle but savory. Sauce rich and not too sweet. If I hadn’t been in a national chain sandwich shop, I might have expected a petite Italian woman hand-rolling them to order and ladling secret-recipe sauce that had been simmering all day. A second bite with cheese added creaminess and slight saltiness to the taste party.

My new rule is this: If I can’t describe it in a Food Network worthy manner, I probably didn’t taste it. And if I’m not going to taste it, there’s no point putting it in my body.

Taking a cue from wine and food aficionados, I am hoping to practice these ways to become a better taster.

* Consider the conditions. A noisy place. Unusual smells. Multi-tasking (like driving or being at my desk.) All of these can keep me from tasting fully. I must do my best to eliminate them.

* Eat first with my eyes. How does the food look? What makes it appealing? I’m struck by how often I don’t even SEE what I’m eating — only the wrapper.

* Smell it. Literally put it up to my nose and take a big whiff. It can not only affect the taste, but it also builds anticipation. (And smells are calorie-free!)

* Start small. Instead of opening my mouth as wide as possible and shoving it in, take a petite bite and savor. It’s nearly impossible to notice any nuances when my cheeks are stuffed to capacity.

* Repeat only until satisfied. One of the benefits of tasting this way is that it’s a slooooow process. And it’s easier to notice when my stomach is getting satisfied because it stops tasting as good as it did. The body actually has pretty good built-in cues. When I don’t steamroll over them.

I guess, then, the process looks a little something like this: Pause. Look. Sniff. Bite. Repeat only as needed.

Which is admittedly different from my typical pattern of Grab. Stuff. Repeat until gone. Go buy more.

So here’s to less wasting and more tasting.

____________________________________________________

In response to the 31 Day blogging challenge, I will be publishing EVERY DAY in October while I stay sugar-free. You can read previous posts HERE. To be alerted to new posts, please follow me on Facebook or Twitter using the links on the right side of this page. Or Subscribe to get posts sent to your Email. Feel free to Tweet your own experiences with #sugarsoberoctober as well.

PLEASE use the comment section to share your own thoughts, questions, or experiences. Like any road, sugar sobriety is one more easily walked with friends. I do my best to reply to every comment.