Are You Guilty of Mindless Eating?

How many food related decisions do you make a day?  Most people according to the author of "Mindless Eating," by Brian Wansink will say around 30.  BzzzzzTT,WRONG!!!!

The average person during the course of an average day makes over 200 food related decisions.  He even goes on to say that if we give people a larger plate size, in some cases, they will end up eating 25-50% more food just because of sizing things up wrongly with our eyes.  Our eyes are bigger than our stomach I guess you could say. 

Today I simply want to give a listing of some things that will help you keep your eating in CHECK.  After all, 200 decisions in one day is a lot to handle.  I personally was probably more in the 30 decision per day group until I read this article and actually began to stop myself with any thought I had related to food.  I think the 200 in right on!!

Mindless Eating Tips

1)      No open glass bowls in the office.  (See chocolate, eat chocolate!  No chocolate, no guilt!)

      2)      Convenience leads to eating.  (Candy bars, soda, McDonalds...need I say more?)
      3)      Don’t get rid of the evidence. (leave the chicken wing bones and pizza crust as evidence)
      4)      How many food choices are you making a day?  Are you consumed by food? (literally)
      5)      Slow down. 
       6)      The ‘eating pause’. (Stop for a few minutes and give yourself time for the I'm Full pause)
       7)      Don’t be seduced by labels
       8)      Don’t eat by the clock.  (If you're not hungry at noon, don't eat)
      9)      Food doesn’t belong in the Living Room
     10)   Drink Water before eating or snacking.  scientific evidence proves that you will eat less)
      11)   Sunday Fasting (other countries practice fasting more than we Westerners. It's good for you)
      12)   Minimize the sweets or eliminate them all together. 
      13)   No food 2 hours before bed.
      14)   Last meal, salad only.
      15) Food is not something you do, it's something you eat. Resist using food for boredom.
      16)   30 chews per bite
      17)   30 per day keeps the blubber away.  30 minutes of exercise at least 5 days a week. 
      18)    Eat only half.  Portion control!!  We all know that 1/2 is more than enough.
       19)   Peel that bun off the top.  Get rid of half the bread. 
        20)  Get rid of the soda, artificial sweeteners, and sweet tea.  Water is a great choice!

20 little "Tips" to help you "tip" the scale in the right direction with all those food related decisions you have to make.  I hope you all have a great week.

To your good health,
Dr. Sonja