Slower eating is associated with several health benefits, but doing so can feel challenging when you're hungry and ready to devour your entire meal in three bites.

Eating slowly can help you feel fuller faster by helping you tune into your body's satiety signals. It also contributes to digestive health, and generally leads to a greater appreciation for the food you're consuming.

But how do you learn to slow down when you're used to the instant gratification of meals finished in a single moment? Here, we've outlined 12 ways to help you take your time and establish a more mindful relationship with your food. Remember that all of these strategies might feel awkward the first few times, but the effort-result loop of slower eating should eventually make this a habit you'll naturally want to stick to.