(HMW) The psychology secret that makes food more satisfying
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β Dear Reader, I just finished reading this article about how to alter our time perception of experiences to speed it up or slow it down. It got me thinking about how time perception affects all of our eating experiences too. For instance, didn't it feel like summer lasted forever when you were a kid? Maybe you have fond memories of eating popsicles at the community pool or evenings spent BBQing and having friends over. These potent memories exemplify what Martin Wiener, associate professor of psychology at George Mason University in Virginia regards as "retrospective" time. This means that our perception of time is different as you are experiencing it in real time vs. what you might remember in the past. But Wiener, who is an expert in time perception and temporal processing, says we actually have the ability to alter our own time perceptions. Turns out paying attention to the present moment helps us slow down time and make experiences more memorable. And guess what? When we eat fast or multitask while eating or tune out by watching TV while eating, the experience becomes super quick and far less memorable because your conscious brain isn't even online. β Imagine this from a mindful eating perspective. What if you took the time to: π₯£ Slow the eating process wayyyy down π₯£ Tuned into details like colors, aromas, flavor profiles π₯£ Took your time to chew your food slowly and notice how textures and flavors change as it gets broken down π₯£ Stopped to notice how you currently feel, how much you enjoy the meal and how full you are. Not only would these eating experiences be more pleasurable, but they would also be more memorable and healthier for you as well. To be honest, learning mindful eating was what helped me heal my relationship with food and also determine which foods I truly loved versus what I just thought I loved. Yes, mindful eating can make you a foodie! This intersection of psychology and eating is exactly what we explore in my podcast Consciously Eaten. We just recorded episode #24 so you have a trove of episodes to devour and learn from. β βBecome a paid member of the Just One More Bite with Jenny Berk community and this weekly podcast rich with content and value (and funny food and eating stories from my wild dieting past) is completely free. Today, I'm offering a 30% off your membership on monthly and yearly subscriptions - savings that continue as long as you're a member (that's only $6.30 a month or $70 a year) β
β β β Have it: Interesting article alert: 7 Signs that you are a Anxious High Achieverβ β β Made it: β5-Senses Sundayβ ποΈ Writing from a coastal Connecticut retreat with my high school besties! Instead of my usual format, I'm sharing my favorite books, films, and shows that dive deep into each of the 5 senses. Perfect for anyone fascinated by sensory science like I am. From The Bear's perfect omelette scenes to Oliver Sacks' Musicophilia - there's something here to awaken every sense. β New Blog Post: The best books I read in Julyβ β Want it: Mark my words - this will be my next retreat.....or this! β β Ingredient Spotlight: Black Garlic Black garlic is regular garlic that's been fermented through weeks of gentle heat and humidity. The result? Sweet, jammy cloves with hints of molasses and balsamic, without any of the sharp bite. The fermentation process doubles the antioxidants and makes it much easier to digest. How to enjoy: Mash it into compound butter, swirl it into salad dressings, add whole cloves to roasted vegetables, or blend it into aioli for an instant umami boost. Try spreading it on toast with goat cheese and honey for a perfect sweet-savory combo. β101 Black Garlic Recipesβ β Announcements & Upcoming: If the phrase βback-to-schoolβ makes your eye twitch a littleβ¦ youβre not alone. School forms, registration links, new routines, mystery dress code emails, and why are you the only one who knows when Back-to-School Night is? If it feels like you're the family's walking calendar, supply buyer, lunch planner, and routine wrangler, itβs because you are. And itβs exhausting. Thatβs exactly why Iβm sharing the Back-to-School Bundle for Moms. A completely free, curated collection of helpful (and sanity-saving) resources to help you share the mental load, reset your routines, and get ahead of the chaos before it starts. Inside youβll find: β¨ Easy Sheet Pan Meals for Busy Families and Professionals β¨How to Dress Your Ever-Changing Body β¨The 5-day Energy Reset (that's my contribution!) β¨The Busy Momβs Energy Fix: A Sugar Reset to Help You Power Through the School Year This bundle is a collection of powerful and practical resources from some amazing experts! No fluff. No extra overwhelm. Just tools to make the back-to-school season smoother, for you and your family. β
β Also.... don't forget to sign up for the Learn it Summit!β This is your opportunity to open your teenβs mind and feed it with help and expertise from me and over 30 other speakers. Iβll be sharing my interview about Nourishing your College-aged Teen which is important at the start of the school year. β
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β Extra Bytes: What I'm Reading: Trust, by Herman Diaz What I'm Watching: The Time travelers Wifeβ What I'm Listening to: Why we Need Intergenerational Relationshipsβ What I'm Eating: Charred Broccoli Tacos with Smashed Black Beans & Romescoβ β That's it for me this week. I hope you all have a happy and healthy hump day! Warmly, Jenny β
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