Any suggestions to help me slow down my eating? I have never been a really fast eater, but as I heal I am finding I can eat faster than the recommended 30 minutes....

I also cut my food up really small - in tiny minute pieces that I eat with a small fork. I only use my small fork, a baby spoon, and a sharp knife so that I am sure to eat small bites. It is amazing how much flavor you can get chewing a tiny piece of food.

I also have a kitchen timer with a little turtle (reminding me to go slow) and a seashell (reminding me that I love to go on vacations and wear pretty clothes). The turtle and the shell is glued to the top of the timer and I turn it on to 30 minutes (my dr's recommendation) and try to put my fork or spoon down between bites. If my food gets cold I warm it up in the microwave (I hate cold food). If I am not eating enough to make it last the 30 minutes I try to chew a piece of sugar free gum (the small squares) for the remaining minutes so that I am still chewing and releasing the digestive saliva for that whole 30 minutes.

Mentally - it has been ok - sometimes I get up and do something silly - like wash a pan - whatever to break up the 30 minutes. When I have eaten faster - I don't think it has set well with me. I am very crazy about not getting something stuck - and these small cut up bites help me to feel SAFE.