Practice Mindful Eating This Holiday Season!
For most people holidays mean, eating – lots of eating – followed by weight gain and a New Year’s resolution to lose weight. Why not take a easy and healthier approach and practice mindful eating? When you pay attention to what you’re eating, you can make small changes that make a big difference. Here's some tips toward a more mindful approach:
• Control portions. You don’t have to deprive yourself, just eat smaller portions and less often.
• Eat when you’re hungry. If you’re not hungry, wait until you are – just don’t wait until you’re famished because you might overeat. Also, don’t eat just because the food is available.
• Plan. Prepare healthy snacks to eat during the day. A handful of nuts, or an apple and peanut butter. Learn how a little planning helps your heart, and your budget.
• Slow down. Enjoy each bite and put your fork down while chewing. This gives your body enough time to trigger your brain that you are satisfied.
• Pay attention. Try not to eat in front of the TV or computer, or while standing in the kitchen or talking on the phone. You lose track of how much you’ve eaten.
• Use technology. There are apps that manage food records, count calories, and help you track what you eat.
