Tips for curbing mindless eating

Many of us have slipped into a mindless eating habit at some point. It’s normal to crave different foods (usually high-calorie, high-fat, high-sugar foods) when you’re bored, sad or tired. While snacks can play an important role in our overall nutrition, mindless eating can increase overall calorie consumption.

Luckily, there are plenty of things that you can do to tackle mindless eating.  Next time you find yourself wanting to reach into the cupboards and grab a snack when you’re not particularly hungry, give the following things a go:

• Drink some water! The signals that are sent to your brain for hunger and thirst are very similar, so you might feel the need to eat because you’re thirsty and dehydrated.
• Consider why you want to snack and identify the real reasons you’re craving certain foods.
• Avoid buying junk foods so they aren’t easier to grab when you’re bored at home.
• Fill up on healthier foods that satisfy your cravings.
• Eat adequate portions of whole foods for your main meals, particularly healthy carbohydrates and proteins that will provide you with long-lasting energy to fuel your day.
• Keep yourself busy. A lot of the time, mindless eating results from boredom. By filling up your spare time with engaging activities, you can reduce the chance of yourself grabbing unhealthy snacks from the kitchen cupboards.