Lisa's Blog

Dangers of Multi-tasking while you are eating.

Yes, there really are reasons not to multi-task while you are eating, and this week I was alerted to another, almost as a reminder for me to obey this really important guideline.  Keep reading for a bit of a SHOCK!

So one of the really important principles of optimum nutrition is: how you are eating.

Let me explain.  The way you eat, where you eat and the state you are in while you are eating will all affect how your body receives food.
Let's consider for example that you are having a particularly stressful day and then you grab a bite to eat on the run, wolf it down and keep going.  What is happening in your body at that time is going to make it really difficult for you to digest and utilise those nutrients.
When your body is in a stress state, it is in fight or flight mode, lots is happening at this time, but one important thing is blood is circulating away from your digestive tract, to areas where your body thinks it needs it more at that time, i.e. arms and legs for running or fighting! 

So, when you eat, ensure that you are fully present and aware.  Take time out to just enjoy nourishing your body and nurturing yourself.

And here's my confession... one morning last week I got up and made myself a bowl of muesli as part of my usual "get up and ready for the day" routine.  I usually will then sit outside and eat my breakfast, soaking up the morning rays.  On this particular morning, running a little late and having one of those "I have too much to do today" days, I decided to "just quickly check my emails" over breakfast.  You know, multi-tasking!  Super efficiency.

So I am scooping spoonfuls of muesli into my mouth, my delicious home made muesli, eyes firmly affixed to the screen, when all of a sudden my body goes cold.  My mouth has exploded with this pop of something rotten.  The most disgusting putrid taste has spread around my mouth and I can smell it in my nose.  I spit out my mouthful in a flash but it is too late and the gag reflex hits.  I run to the kitchen and rinse my mouth out... trying desperatelly to get rid of the taste and the smell.  Horror, my mind is racing... "what have I eaten, what have I eaten?" and all the instincts that we have signalled an alert through my body.  Fortunately I didn't throw up but instead sat in a dazed confused state for a few minutes... not a pleasant welcome to the day.

So I pluck up the courage to sift through my muesli determined to unearth the intruder... my mind is racing trying to figure out what it could be.  I am looking for a piece of meat, or a fly or something.  And then I see it... a worm shell... I say shell, because it is a flat and empty worm all its insides have oozed out and a trickle of black remains.  There was a worm in my muesli!  Now that is actually probably a good thing.  It means it is certainly organic and probably pretty fresh... so I don't want to put you off your breakfast, BUT because I wasn't watching what I was putting in my mouth, I didn't SEE it before I ate it!  And that was just Nasty!

I certainly won't be doing that again.  Multi-tasking while I am eating!  EEEiiiuuuuuu, what a horrible way to learn that lesson.  But I am pleased to say that I still enjoy my muesli now, I won't be defeated by a meagre worm, I just pay more attention to what I am eating... which only enhances digestion, and the whole nourishment process!