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Eating too quickly means that you are unlikely to chew foods properly. When food is not chewed properly it can cause discomfort, pain and/or vomiting.

To slow down your eating during meals, put your cutlery down between mouthfuls. Eating slowly may initially feel unusual, but it must become a habit. It may take 20 minutes to finish your smaller meal.

Concentrate while you are eating. Set aside time for meals and don’t do other things whilst you are eating. Sit up straight and avoid slouching. Be especially careful when eating socially, as during conversation it is very easy to become distracted. Cut food into small pieces (the size of a small fingernail) and chew well.

Helen Bauzon, consultant bariatric dietitian and author of “The Gastric Band Nutrition Essential” book, describes a chewing technique that has helped her gastric band patients improve their chewing. In summary, it includes the following steps:

1. Don’t push food straight to the side of your mouth to begin chewing as soon as it enters your mouth. Place the food on your tongue and move it around to experience the textures and flavours.

2. When saliva starts to flow and lubricate the food, move it to the side of your mouth and begin chewing.

3. Bring the food back to your tongue and experience the change in taste and texture.

4. Swallow.

Helen has found this technique extremely successful in helping her patients tolerate a variety of foods. If you are unable to chew food to a smooth texture in the mouth, avoid eating it. For example, avoid tough, chewy or doughy foods. This is particularly important after gastric band surgery.