Snack Mindfully to Control Boredom Eating

Snacking happens and not necessarily when you are hungry.

Nowadays, food has become as much a source of entertainment as it is daily nourishment and people often find it difficult to control their appetite, especially with today’s portion sizes and fast paced lifestyle. Where an occasional snack will not cause much harm, consistently eating out of boredom can lead to negative outcomes.

When you turn off your brain, you turn on an autopilot that you can’t trust. You don’t have to worry about reaching for chips or cookies if you choose to prepare healthy snacks ahead of time. You may have started boredom eating for a reason and therefore trying to stop boredom eating might be difficult.

Manage boredom eating with healthy food choices…

If you enjoy snacking when you watch TV, eat healthy snacks that add protein and nutrients to daily food intake. To manage boredom eating, make healthier choices for truly a satisfying experience:

• Fresh Veggie Snacks – Generally speaking, people like to snack on French fries but even a small order can be filled with calories and fat grams. Butternut squash, turnips, carrots, and roasted root vegetables can be a satisfying alternative.
• Plain Popcorn Snacks – Whether you are trying to lose weight or not, popcorn is a whole grain that offers many of the same benefits as wheat, barley, and oats. In fact, popcorn is usually acceptable for most low carb diets.
• Eat Mindfully – If you were driven to eat out of boredom, do not create other distractions while eating. Focus all of your attention on the experience of eating a nutritionally healthy meal or snack.
• Healthy Fruit Snacks – Raspberries and berries in general tend to have exceptional fiber content that promotes satiety, improve digestion, and provide a variety of health benefits without making other lifestyle changes.

Engaging in mindless eating can lead to overeating…

It is easy to confuse boredom with laziness, but they are notably different. When you feel bored, you are really restless to do something, but nothing feels compelling or motivating. At that time, try drinking a glass of water or take a short walk followed by a cup of your favorite tea.

Although boredom eating is not considered to be an eating disorder, engaging in mindless eating can lead to routine overeating, which increases your risk of developing an eating disorder, especially if your parents are overweight. Managing boredom is a matter of adjusting your mindset to find your rhythm.

Truth is most people prefer being active as opposed to doing nothing. Visit Metabolic Research Center for personalized tips on managing boredom eating with non-food distractions and planned snacks.