' Message of the Day for Thursday 12/5/2001

December 6, 2001

PLEASE SLOW DOWN! 12/6/2001

I think it`s time today for a little dining etiquette. I know most of you

took manners courses in school (ha, ha), but with our busy lifestyles, we

don`t really enjoy the art of eating as we should. So I`m going to give you

a tip on how to lose 6 pounds by January 1! It`s called “The

Please Slow Down Weight Loss Program”. Ooh, I see you`re getting close to

the screen. Come a little closer and I`ll kiss your cheeks! ;-)

Most of us spend hours in the kitchen preparing food and only 18 minutes

eating. You don`t believe me? Track the time you`re in the kitchen and

compare it to the time you`re at the dining room table. You`ll see how fast

we eat. Yes, indeed, we are the fast society.

Here`s part of my weight loss plan. Sit down. Put the napkin in your lap.

Make sure there`s a tall glass of water in front of you. Have a few sips

while being charming. Then when the salad arrives, put some fresh ground

pepper on top of it. Pick up your salad fork. Remember your fork is not a

piece of heavy-duty machinery! Put a small amount on your fork. Don`t try to

get food through all the prongs! Put it in your mouth, chew slowly, and put

the fork down.

Mentally count to 10 before picking that fork up again. A dinner salad

should take you around 15 bites. In the middle of the bites, keep putting

the fork down and keep drinking the water. Uh, uh, uh! Don`t pick up that

roll and sop up your dressing! Where are your manners?

When your dinner arrives, look it over. Look at your vegetables, your

protein, and your starch. You`re looking at 25-30 bites, my friend. Between

those bites, there`s water and conversation. Nope, you don`t need that roll!

You just ate half of a baked potato.

You`ll be surprised at how much less you eat when you slow the whole eating

process down! Concentrate on chewing the food and savoring all those hours

of time you put in those dishes. Yes, the water will fill you, too, and yes,

you most probably will leave some stuff on your plate because you just can`t

eat anymore.

So slow down, enjoy, and savor each one of those bites.

Love,

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