#Chewathon Day 2 & 3

Hello everyone!! How is your week of chewing going?  I’ve been having a blast following along with Jessica Porter. Have I mentioned that she was the first person I took a macro cooking class with? Needless to say, it was hilarious and amazing and changed my life. Have you read her books? Be sure to leave comments on each post this week, and you could win her new book “The Milf Diet“. Good Luck!!

To chewing!!

Chewing well is something that I think I do pretty well. I’ve always been a slow eater, and usually the last person to finish eating. But this week, really paying attention has increased my awareness and I’ve made a few new discoveries:

1. I’ve found that I often chew just the second half of each mouthful really well, and was swallowing down the first part, before really chewing it all the way. I’m happy I discovered this, and because I was paying attention it was super easy to change. Yay chewing!

2. Or course this one should be obvious, but eating, and appreciating eating (for instance, not eating zoned out in front of the tv watching Buffy…er… not that I’d do that….ahem….), makes chewing WAY more easy, and also really allows you to feel more connected with what you’re putting in your body. Makes sense. Even reading a book while eating/chewing can take away from the amazing feeling you can get while simply enjoying chewing your food. Chewing really can be like a meditative practice.

3. Good quality food tastes just as good, or better, the more you chew it. Bad quality food starts to taste, well, bad. And refined foods often break down faster.

How has your week of chewing been so far? Can’t wait to read your experiences. I’ll be back tomorrow with some tips on making the perfect brown rice!

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Claire Johnson - February 20, 2013 - 6:43 pm

Lovely post! I have been having a difficult time figuring out wether eating with people or alone makes chewing easier. And I totally do that thing of chewing the last half!

Shauna - February 20, 2013 - 8:10 pm

Hey Claire! I totally didn’t realize that I did until this week, so it was a fun observation! Personally, I chew far better when I’m alone and can just concentrate on eating… that being said, when I was at the KI we were all kind of in the groove and it was really easy to chew in a group (not that we thought about it that much!)… I guess it depends entirely on the situation!

Csilla - February 21, 2013 - 12:39 am

I realised that I used to chew the second half of each mouthful really well too, and swallowing down a very little from the first part.
I do it in this way for a long time, I just cannot chew more than 50 times without swallowing a very little at the beginning. Sometimes it is enough just to do the movement without really swallowing anything, so it is all maybe in my head… But I never could change it.
I will give it a try now again.

Anyway, an average of 100 chewings per mouthful for today, except for the miso soup with around 15-20.

Shauna - February 23, 2013 - 12:13 pm

Csilla, you’re a chewing pro-star!!

#Chewathon Day One!

It’s day one of this week’s chew-a-thon! What kind of things are you making and chewing? Hubs made delicious aduki bean buns yesterday, and so we kicked off our day chewing those. I found that I had to chew more than 50 times in order to break down the buns to a nice, liquid state, and I felt satisfied and full before I had even finished my portion. Plus, Hubs took just as long as I did to chew his breakfast- which is a major success!

Todays chewing tip: If you find it difficult to chew pureed soups, soft cooked grain porridges or other liquid-y meals, try adding garnish (parsley, cilantro, scallion, chives and even nuts or seeds) into the soup or porridge. As well as creating energetic balance and adding nutrients and a splash of colour, these quick garnishes have now provided you with a reason to chew!

Leave your comments this week for a chance to win a signed copy of Jessica Porter’s fabulous new book “The Milf Diet”. Comment on Twitter #chewathon

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Csilla - February 19, 2013 - 6:43 pm

An average of 80-100 chewings per mouthful for today :)

Shauna - February 20, 2013 - 6:03 pm

Woohoo Csilla!! That’s fabulous!! Notice any changes?

Csilla - February 21, 2013 - 12:29 am

It’s becoming sweeter, and seems like another taste. Sometimes it is not comfortable when it becomes liquidy. Maybe it depends on my mood :)

Basic Miso Soup. Ninja Food. » She Cooks Macro - April 18, 2013 - 1:02 pm

[…] Last true fact: Ninjas chew their soup. For tips on chewing miso and other soups, check out this post. […]

Chew-a-thon!!

It was Friday afternoon and I was feeling, well, a little blah. Whatever the reason(s), I felt like I needed a little push, a quick kick-start, something more. I sent the request out, and literally seconds later my answer came-a-callin’ via Jessica Porter. “I’m thinking of doing a 7-day Chew-a-thon. Any interest? We could FB and tweet while we chew… Starting Monday. Let me know. #chewing”  

YES!! It’s just what I needed. At least 50 chews per mouthful, for an entire week. A whole group of us, experiencing chewing amazingness together!!

Want to chew along? Even if it’s just for one meal a day, you’ll notice some changes. Try it… I dare you. Plus, leave your comments about your chewing thoughts and observations on each post here this week  and you could win a SIGNED copy of Jessica’s totally amazing and inspiring new book “The Milf Diet.” Awesome. Like always, I’ll ship anywhere in the world, so comment away… and (starting tomorrow!) let the chewing begin!!

Use the side links to follow along with hubs and I (yes- he’s chewing too!), via Facebook and Twitter.

Follow along with Jessica via twitter

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Edita Dobríková - February 17, 2013 - 3:07 pm

OK! I will chew! I will start with tomorrow lunch, because porridge is not very chewable :)

Shauna - February 17, 2013 - 3:37 pm

Edit! So happy that you’re joining in! Try chewing the porridge too- I’m always surprised at just how much I can chew it, lol!! Let me know how it works for you!

This week is going to be fun!!

Kathi W - February 17, 2013 - 4:19 pm

The MILF book is great- nice photos and recipes too- Lots to “chew over”! Hope who ever wins the book likes it as much as I do!

sebastian - February 17, 2013 - 4:47 pm

“Chew well” G.O.

Kuwanna - February 17, 2013 - 6:47 pm

This is exactly what I need… With two small children and a recently traveling husband my meals are swallowed practically whole and always on my feet – even though I have always been one to chew my food thoroughly before swallowing. I need a wake up and another reason to eat my food the better way. Thanks for including us!

Csilla - February 18, 2013 - 7:16 am

Top of today’s lunch chewing thoughts:
Chew-a-thon is a really great idea. I was thinking about the benefits of chewing. Lino Stanchich wrote a book about it, it was really amazing and surprising. I don’t know if I ever would realise myself how important is chewing.
Now I live in the Netherlands. I moved here about 3 months ago with my fiancé. People here have a really different idea about lunch. Lunch here equals two sandwitches. With cheese of course.
My fiancé works for a relatively big company. Every morning I make him the lunch, he brings it with him in a food thermos. Noone knew what it was, so he explained everyone what food thermos is and why he eats this food for lunch.
(Ah, and he is chewing usually :) )
I was wondering, why dutch people are so tall, and have thick bones. You know, girls here are not like Audrey Hepburn. They are nice and beautyful, but usually they seem like they have thick bones.
Maybe because of diary. They eat a really huge amount of diary. There are a lot of cheese houses. In supermarkets, a really wide variety of cheeses, yoghurts and other milk products.
I read that cow’s milk contains a big amount of calcium, because little cows need to grow their bones quickly. I wish I could find that article or book where I read that, that was a really good explanation. So are dutch people so tall and have thick bones maybe because of consuming a lot of diary products?
Hmm. I wish I could knew that.

Shauna - February 18, 2013 - 8:58 pm

Hi Kuwanna, I felt the same way- just a little challenge to up the ante and push myself to be more aware. I was really excited when Jessica posted about doing this chewathon, so of course I had to write about it here and invite all my readers to join in too! Keep me posted on your progress as the week goes on!

Kathi- Isn’t is fabulous? I love the way Jessica writes and was so happy to meet up with her briefly so she could sign a book for one of my readers! When she posted about the Chewathon, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to give away her amazing book.

Costa Rica

We walked on the beach, venturing out on low tide to swim in hidden tide-pools in the rock. Nature’s infinity pools, we called them. We saw howler monkeys in the trees, and were woken by them in the early morning hours, as they shouted and howled their welcome to the new day. We saw baby monkeys clinging to their mommies backs as they swung through the trees above.

We ate an insane amount of fresh, super fresh, fish. Fish wraps, ceviche, pâté, tacos, surfers bowls, smoked tuna, alongside delicious iced teas and cold local beers. Product C, we miss your welcoming, friendly vibe and the smiles and kindness of everyone there. Bisous/Besos!

We spent a morning stand up paddle boarding, and for once I was thankful for my strong short legs that helped me keep balanced. We made an epic rap song about paddle boarding. We had picnics on the beach and drove through a ranch to play in the pools above a secret, private waterfall. Wild orchids were everywhere in the surrounding trees.

I sat on the back of an ATV, barreling through the night, scarf wrapped around my nose and mouth to block the dust from the dirt road, head thrown back to watch the stars. So many stars. Inky black sky. We saw the southern cross constellation. We drove straight up through a dark jungle road, and emerged straight down to find a stunning and romantic, ocean front, candlelit restaurant. We ate amazing food, with amazing friends, and Mango Ron.

We surfed. Hubs got up on his board, and I made it half way, crouched. There’s nothing like the feeling of being pushed towards the shore, riding the top of a wave… Even if it is just lying on the board. Surfboard, next time you are soooo mine. We played in the warmest water I’ve ever been in, got a little too much sun, and explored sandy beaches. So many shells.

We cooked pinto (beans and rice), ate pinto, and cooked more pinto. Fried plantains are delicious. Hubs has asked for pinto every day since we returned.

We made coconut milk, and started off a new batch of coconut oil. We drank local beer and watched the sun set. We sat. We talked. We enjoyed the little things- deliciously, epically, slow brewed coffee. We savoured the big things- friendship, good conversation, exciting plans and love.

Costa Rica, we can’t wait to be back.

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Carmen - February 14, 2013 - 1:32 pm

I’m crying, so beautifully written. It made my day. I miss you both so much

sandra - February 14, 2013 - 3:11 pm

Great post Shauna, loved it! When you came to Lisbon and want to surf a second try give me a call, my husband is the best surf instructor you’ll ever meet! :)

Shauna - February 14, 2013 - 4:43 pm

Awwww Carmen!! We miss you too- we had such a great time. Thank you!!! We’ll see you again soon!! (EXCITED!!)

Sandra- that sounds amazing and I will definitely take you up on the offer- thanks!! And we should do some cooking together too!!

Mandy - February 14, 2013 - 6:19 pm

Absolutely Amazing! Your writing is so beautiful I felt like I was away for a little break just then…. Awesome!

Christopher Kapoor - February 15, 2013 - 1:54 pm

Shauna and Jeremy,

What a beautiful account of your trip! Your words inspired wonderful pictures in my mind of what it must have been like to visit that paradise of a place. We should all arrange a trip there together sometime. Cleanses the soul, no? Lots of love from Brazil!

Agar-Agar

Happy Friday! Hubs and I returned this week from an amazing time in Costa Rica! While I sort through all the photos for next week’s post, it seemed like the perfect time to share another Introducing Macro Ingredients feature. Plus, we’re in the middle of a heavy snowfall here and the white, flakiness of the agar just seemed to fit the mood of the day. Have a warm and cozy weekend!

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