Do you want to eat better but find yourself making unhealthy decisions? If so, then this article is for you. Mindful Eating Exercises can be a powerful tool for anyone looking to change their relationship with food. As you read this article, I would like you to think about your own habits and how you can bring more awareness to the way that you eat. The exercises in this post are designed to help break patterns of mindless eating by drawing attention to what and when we’re eating.
There are many reasons why people binge and overeat, but these exercises can help you identify the root cause of your eating patterns.
Small Plates
You can try using smaller plates. This will help to trick your brain into thinking that you’ll overeat more because the plate is full of food instead of being empty on a larger plate. The same can be said for bowls and glasses as well!
Healthy Snacks
Keep healthy snacks nearby, such as yogurt or nuts in an easily accessible location like your desk at work. When hunger hits between meals, it’s easy to just grab whatever is nearby – which might not always be the healthiest choice (donuts anyone?). Having healthier options nearby will help keep you from overeating later when those cravings hit too hard to resist!
Water Before Meals
Drink water before every meal if possible. One way we overeat without realizing it is by filling up our stomachs with too much food and not enough water. By having a glass of water before each meal, you can help prevent overeating by making sure your stomach is full of both fluids and sustenance!
Emotional Eating
Put emotional overeating on the back burner. When we overeat out of stress, boredom, or sadness it can be a vicious cycle and lead to even more overeating with every bad mood we experience! Make sure you’re keeping your emotions under control and not letting them cause overeating.
Portion Control
It’s hard to stop overeating at dinner sometimes when everyone is telling you that “it won’t hurt”. But overeating large portions will only cause weight gain in the long run because your body doesn’t know how much food it needs any more than what one serving constitutes. It may take some time for this habit to change, but find ways – whether it’s smaller plates or leaving extras on your plate instead of eating them ‘just in case’ – to stop overeating portions.
