How to stop mindless eating?

By Amie Brntley

Is there anything you can do to put an end to mindless eating? Yes!

Keep candy bowls away from your work area.

One of the biggest problems people face is mindless eating. Mindless eating is when you continue to munch away at food without paying attention to how your body reacts to the food and how much you're consuming. It may be while you watch a movie or read a book. Either way, the results of mindless eating can be devastating. Before you know it, you may have consumed a half a bag of chips or an entire pint of ice cream. How do you end the cycle though? Is there anything you can do to put an end to mindless eating? Yes. By following the tips listed below, you'll get a better grasp on your eating habits and be more conscious of how much food you consume.

Never Bring an Entire Package of Food Out of the Kitchen

It may be tempting to grab a bag of chips before settling in for a movie or a bag of snack size candy bars before curling up with a book, but it leads to mindless eating. The problem lies in the fact that your brain is more occupied with the movie or book than the food you're consuming. This means that you'll continue to eat without realizing that you're getting full. This can lead to the consumption of hundreds, if not over a thousand calories. Instead of grabbing the entire bag of chips or pint of ice cream, portion out a serving and try to make it last as long as possible. More importantly, once that serving is gone, don't go back for more.

Cut Out Eating While Your Mind Is Occupied

First things first. You don't have the ability to truly enjoy a food if your mind is on something else. Not to mention that your brain is more interested in the movie or book than the signals that your stomach is sending. It could care less that the stomach is sending up signals that you're getting full until it's too late. By the time your brain finally listens, you may have eaten to the point that you're sick. Taking time to enjoy food and focus on the food allows your brain to be more in tune with your stomach. Thus, giving your stomach a better chance of relaying signals that you're getting full.

Take Time In Between Bites

This tip not only helps prevent overeating, but slows down the eating process so that you enjoy the food and are conscious of your eating habits. A good rule is to put down your fork or take a drink of water in between bites. This helps you focus on the food, rather than just trying to shove it down. Chances are you'll eat a lot less too because your stomach will have time to send a signal to your brain before you overeat.

Don't Keep Bowls of Candy at Your Desk

While you might like sharing candy with your fellow workers, having candy so close at hand can lead to mindless eating. Before you know it, you've consumed 12 snack size candy bars while working on a difficult presentation. You may not even realize you ate them until you look down and see your desk covered in wrappers. It might not seem like a big deal, but all that candy can really add up. If you want to share candy with your coworkers, place the bowl in the break room. That way people can grab a handful and you won't risk eating the entire bowl.