Food for thought
This week some food for thought. I have a feeling we are all pretty healthy eaters. At least we try. Fruits here, veggies there, making sure to eat healthy proteins and filling our plates (not too full)with things that taste good and make us feel good. But it isn’t always easy to avoid the wrong stuff. It often takes planning and will-power. (I didn’t plan for the éclair incident on Friday night, tasty at the time but not so much in the morning-lard hangover! – BUT I do plan to make good choices this week and take it easy on sweets this weekend)
Do you pay attention to what goes in your mouth? “Awareness” is an essential part of yoga and spiritual practices that creates a strong sense of self and hopefully the ability to better roll with our live’s currents. Are you aware when you sit down to eat? Are you even sitting? To avoid mindless noshing and keep the junk out of the trunk take control of your eating habits. Here are some tactics from the sparkpeople site you can use to adopt this habit:
Stop skipping meals
A regular eating routine keeps you balanced and helps you digest food more efficiently. Plus it helps eliminate the starve-starve-starve-binge cycle many dieters suffer throughout the day.
Eat only when hungry
Not when you’re bored, sad, nervous, angry, upset or stressed. If you’re at a party with an appetizer buffet, socialize on the other side of the room, so you don’t habitually graze while talking. Listen to your body, not your mind or emotions.
Cut back on late night snacking
Prime time for television is also prime time for calorie-heavy comfort foods. Snacking at night is often another example of eating to relax or as something to do.
Plan for snacks
If you’re going to get the munchies – and you will – you might as well make the best of it. Keep raisins, carrot sticks, granola bars, and other healthy snacks within arms’ reach wherever you are.
Have a purposeful eating environment
This is especially important at home. Choose a regular time and place for your meals. Cut out distractions, take a little extra time preparing and pay attention to your meal. Don’t eat over the counter, while watching TV or while on the phone.
By paying more attention to what and how you’re eating, you’ll not only have more control over what goes in your mouth, but you’ll also notice how often you previously ate and didn’t even realize it. The best part is that you’ll naturally start to make better choices.
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