Slow Down Challenge - Savor

Yesterday I linked to Lindsay's post where she introduced the Slow Down Challenge. I love the idea. I need this. So I did sign up for it. This morning, as I was eating my oatmeal, I opened my email from Jeff Goins (the catalyst for this challenge) and today's challenge was "Savor." Talk about perfect timing.

He does mention that this isn't just about savoring food, it's savoring moments as well, like sunrises, sunsets, or maybe just that mental quiet that comes from running. I know I savored that time today during my run.

Challenge: Savor

Take your time with food today. If you're the one who cooks in your home, spend more than the minimum amount of time preparing the meal. 

Slowly cut and cook each ingredient, imagining what they will taste like when blended.
When you eat, chew slowly. Make each bite intentional and deliberate, counting to at least 20 before swallowing. 

As you do, remember to appreciate and enjoy all the flavors in the food. And above all, remember to smile between bites.

I stopped myself from wolfing down my breakfast, and tried to do what was suggested, savor the flavors, really enjoy them and remember why I love that combo to begin with.

My daily oatmeal consists of oats that I soak overnight with chia seeds, cinnamon, and stevia. I heat them up and stir in protein powder and peanut butter. I top with chopped apples that flavor with plenty of cinnamon and a few dashes of some vanilla stevia. I heat those up and stir into my oatmeal.

Normally I am almost swallowing the apples whole, barely chewing. I do get happy when I get the perfect ratio or peanut butter to apple to oats in a bite. Some of you will be nodding right about now, others might think I've gone off the deep end.

So today - I noticed the nuances of the cinnamon. I had to grind up cinnamon sticks as I was out of my regular cinnamon. So I noticed the ever so slightly coarser texture and how biting down gives a burst of flavor and texture. There's a very slight bite to fresh cinnamon as well.

The chia seeds add a creamy texture to the oats without adding in any type of milk. I find them to add a slight sweetness too. The peanut butter is just another layer of creaminess, smoothness that folds into each bite. But, I do use a crunchy peanut butter, so once in a while you get a nice surprise bite into a peanut piece.

The apples today were Granny Smith, so there was a slight tartness but that was offset by all of the other flavors melding together. And then the smell, it almost smells like an apple pie.

It really was a nice little challenge. So simple, but something I think we tend to forget to do. We always talk about how much we love our food, but how often do we truly take the time to figure out why? To taste all the nuances, the textures, and notice the fragrances.

Will you take this challenge and savor your food today?