Eat to Fuel Your Body Not Your Emotions

With today’s ever increasing portion sizes and fast paced lifestyle, most people find it difficult to control their appetite. Where an occasional snack will not cause much harm, consistently eating out of boredom can lead to negative outcomes. Nowadays, food has become as much a source of entertainment as it is daily nourishment. Whereas boredom is actually a privilege, it can become a curse is you are trying to manage your weight and improve your overall health. Sometimes, when you are feeling a specific food craving, it is best honor it by managing the portion size. If not, you might end up eating more of that food exception in the long run.

Minimize snacking by eating at regular intervals…

It is human to want to turn to things that bring you joy when you are dealing with boredom. The key is to manage how and what you are eating when bored. Here are some helpful strategies for managing episodes of boredom eating:

• Fresh Veggie Snacks – If raw vegetables are not your thing, consider a snack of pickled vegetables to satisfy a desire for a salty, savory, and crunchy treat. There are a number of vegetables other than cucumbers available in pickled form, or you can make your own and add a little heat.
• Plain Popcorn Snacks – If you have problems with portion control when snacking, whip up your own low-calorie snack bags. Popcorn is rich in antioxidants and delivers a healthy dose of fiber to aid digestion.
• 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 – Fresh fruit snacks have a few advantages as it is all natural, delicious to eat, and more filling than some other options. Munching on fresh berries is a good option especially if you are craving sweetness.

Avoid using food as your only coping mechanism…

It is important to remember that your goal isn’t to never eat when bored again. Your goal is to recognize triggers for boredom eating, so you avoid using it as your only coping mechanism. There are non-food options that will leave you feeling better. 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. Thus, you can feel bored even on the job or when performing activities at home that appear to be meaningful in many ways. For the most part, when you feel bored, simply remind yourself why you are doing the task at hand.

At Metabolic Research Center, we know not everyone needs the same support. In addition to your team of coaches, you also have access to our private online support communities where clients and coaches share ideas for their favorite snacks, and more.