When we drink with meals, we can actually be diluting our necessary natural digestive enzymes. This practice also encourages one to swallow their food without chewing. It is preferable to drink before or after a meal than with. In Oriental Medicine, the digestive system is regarded as a furnace or burner that transforms our food into energy we can utilize. Slow down when you eat and chew your food better.
Mastication allows digestive enzymes in our saliva to better aid the digestive process.
Maybe you grew up in a large family and had to eat fast before your siblings finished the food. Relax, your brother has his own place now. Take the time to taste and savor your food. It takes about 20 minutes for our brains to feel satisfied from a meal. If we rush it, we are more likely to overeat.