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IS eating slower to swerve obesity biting off more than you can chew in your lunch hour?

A study suggests we should chomp away 35-40 times on each forkful to keep trim – so we tested out if it was realistic amid the daily grind.

 Nick Pritchard gives his s-lowdown on how long it took him to eat six 'fast' foods
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Nick Pritchard gives his s-lowdown on how long it took him to eat six 'fast' foodsCredit: Oliver Dixon - olliedixon.com

Here, NICK PRITCHARD gives his s-lowdown on how long it took him to munch through six “fast” foods, chewing each mouthful 40 times.

Chicken Jalfrezi

Time: 28 minutes 16 seconds

 The chicken jalfrezi didn't curry favour with Nick
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The chicken jalfrezi didn't curry favour with NickCredit: Oliver Dixon - olliedixon.com

I normally wolf this down in seven chews per forkful but this mega munching method means half my lunch break is gone by the time my food is. It’s hardly currying favour with me.

Pizza

Time: 55 minutes 52 seconds

 The pizza took almost an hour to devour
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The pizza took almost an hour to devourCredit: Oliver Dixon - olliedixon.com

Pillowy dough means this took ages to eat. With collecting it too, I am well over the hour I have for lunch. I could fly halfway to Italy in that time. Usually the cheesy chewfest takes me ten chomps per bite.

Big Mac and fries

Time: 13 minutes 44 seconds

 The McDonald’s mainstay took 13 minutes and 44 seconds to eat
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The McDonald’s mainstay took 13 minutes and 44 seconds to eatCredit: Oliver Dixon - olliedixon.com

Repeated chewing gives me a new appreciation of the balanced flavours of this McDonald’s mainstay. This is mindful munching and doesn’t eat up too much time. I’d chew each bite seven times usually.

Subway sandwich

Time: 28 minutes 20 seconds

 A foot-long toasted sub took upwards of half an hour
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A foot-long toasted sub took upwards of half an hourCredit: Oliver Dixon - olliedixon.com

Chowing down so much is starting to gnaw at me. But I opt for a foot-long sub, toasted – a wise move as it stays fresh to the end. It still consumes half my lunch hour – I’d normally nibble each bite eight times.

KFC and chips

Time: 18 minutes 48 seconds

 Nick usually demolishes a KFC and chips in no time
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Nick usually demolishes a KFC and chips in no timeCredit: Oliver Dixon - olliedixon.com

Eating the three pieces of chicken off the bone means sometimes I can only bite off a few scraps – which I must then chew. The chips are cold by the time I get to them. I normally devour this at five chews a chomp.

Fish and chips

Time: 13 minutes 18 seconds

 The quickest 'fast food' was fish and chips
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The quickest 'fast food' was fish and chipsCredit: Oliver Dixon - olliedixon.com

This makes for a great al desko Friday lunch. It’s best eaten quick while still crisp and steaming, at six chews per mouthful. But my overzealous chewing means the final few bites are limp and clammy.


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