#eat
Don’t keep cookies or chips at home
When you feel like munching on unhealthy snacks, but you have to go to the store and not to the kitchen cupboard for them – you are more likely to give up your intention to snack.
A study of secretaries found that if chocolates were placed on the desk right in front of them, they ate an average of 9 chocolates a day. If they were hidden in their desk drawer – 6. However, if they had to get up and walk 2 meters to get chocolates – 4. Therefore, limit the amount of food you have at home.
Turn off the TV while eating
People who eat a meal while watching TV consume 10% more food. During the day it can be up to 25% more. Eating while performing other absorbing activities makes it difficult for us to even remember how much we ate.
Serve dishes on small plates
By eating food from plates twice as large, we can eat up to 40% more. Small plates trick the brain and make us feel full by eating smaller portions.
Beware of… treacherous music
When we listen to fast music while eating, we eat faster, which means we overeat more often – because the stimulus that informs us that we are already full does not have time to reach the brain.
Take care of fresh breath
If you can’t resist snacking between meals, start chewing gum. This way you will occupy your mind with something else and distract yourself from the desire to reach for something small. Also, when you start to feel hungry, brush your teeth. The strong mint taste in the mouth will curb your appetite and reduce your desire to snack.
When you’re not eating with your family, eat in front of a mirror
Research shows that this method is a great dietary restriction. Looking at ourselves while consuming makes us more aware of our bodies and we don’t want to overeat.
Don’t starve your body at all costs
Extreme abstinence from food will make you constantly think about it and you will be more susceptible to sudden bouts of unhealthy food and sweets. Too long breaks between meals (over 4 hours) may slow down the metabolism.
Eat with your other hand
Try switching the fork to your other hand and eating the entire dish, or use chopsticks. You will eat slower, so you will feel full faster and consume smaller portions.
Avoid buffets
This is another trap. When we have many dishes in front of us, we are prone to overeating. There is a double mechanism at work here: we want to try everything and if we have paid, why should we limit ourselves?!
Pay in cash
When you pay by card and by transfer, you do not control your expenses. So make a shopping list and stick to it strictly and pay in cash at the checkout. Research shows that next time you should buy a pack of unhealthy snacks less.
