Know what, when, why, and how you eat
Food is your body’s fuel. You can’t live without it. The key is to give your body enough nutrients and energy without eating too much. This sounds simple, but it can be hard to do in our food-obsessed culture. Learning new eating habits will help you manage your weight.
Try the following:
- Don’t skip meals. Skipping meals often leads to overeating later on. It’s best to spread your eating throughout the day.
- Eat a variety of foods, not just a few favorites. Not only is this healthier, but it can help ward off cravings.
- If you find yourself eating when you’re not hungry, ask yourself why. Many of us eat when we’re bored, stressed, upset, tired, or just to be polite.
- Learn to listen to your body. If you’re not hungry, get busy doing something else instead of eating. For instance, if you’re bored, stressed, upset, try going for a walk.
- Eat slower. It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that it’s full. You may find it easier to stop at one helping.
- Pay attention to what you eat. Don’t read or watch TV during your meal.
