In this vein, the pasuk states (Bereishis 18:5): ‘And I will take a morsel of bread, and sustain your hearts; afterwards you shall pass on.’ Rav Uri of Strelisk zy’a explains this to mean that one should eat with yishuv hadaas, calmness and serenity, rather than hurriedly. When one washes his hands before eating, he should not rush through it without thinking. Rather, he should concentrate on what he is doing and have simple kavannah that he is fulfilling the mitzvah of netilas yadayim.
When one then makes the brachos of Al Netilas Yadayim and Hamotzi, he should say each word slowly and concentrate on the fact that he is fulfilling Hashem’s will by making these blessings. While making Hamotzi, one should also have in mind that he is praising Hashem for providing him with sustenance.
He should then eat calmly – not ravenously and speedily. He should think that he is eating in order to have strength to serve Hashem. When he finishes eating, he should recite Birchas Hamazon slowly and keep in mind that he is fulfilling Hashem’s will to say this blessing.
Rav Uri states that if one eats like this, he will fulfill the words of the pasuk ‘afterwards, you shall pass’, meaning that his table will be considered like a Mizbeach that atones for his sins and makes them a thing of the past.