Brush Your Teeth to Manage Bored Food Cravings

Boredom eating functions in many of the same ways as eating when you are anxious, angry, or stressed. It is easy to understand your actions, as food triggers the release of feel-good brain chemicals, but so does exercise. If you’ve gone through most of your life using food for comfort or as a mechanism to numb out from stress, your brain may be conditioned to reach for food when hit with a stressor or anxious feeling.

People eat when bored to break the monotony rather than for the pleasure of the food itself. So, plan on managing food choices and portion sizes and always minimize distractions while eating. That way you can mindfully enjoy every bite. If you know you are bored and feeling hungry, do something stimulating other than to reach for food.

Healthy distractions can help you manage boredom…

At times, just the act of consuming something (or doing something) can help curb nagging feelings of boredom. All it takes is some proven strategies and remaining dedicated to your options:

• Brush Your Teeth – Brushing your teeth is a physical distraction that can help prevent mindless eating. The fresh minty taste in your mouth will overpower any immediate food cravings.
• Do Something Fun – Make a mixed-task to-do list that is filled with productive and fun things. When you recognize a food craving, do the next thing on your list.
• Make Sure You’re Hydrated – To avoid any signs of dehydration, drink plenty of water throughout the day. Unfortunately, most of us are not drinking enough of the right fluids and boredom eating can be triggered by thirst rather than true hunger.
• Add a Protein Snack – When you’re bored with the task at hand and find yourself day dreaming about food cravings, you might not be consuming the right amount of protein. Combining lean protein with high-fiber foods can keep you feeling full longer.

Being bored can actually improve your brain health…

The desire for a particular food item can be powerful and has the ability to fully consume your thoughts, but cravings will go away if you simply wait them out. Unfortunately, people rarely do, so it is important to find a suitable distraction. Neuroscientists say the brain has a default network mode that turns on when you are disinterested in what you’re doing.

As a positive note, boredom is a natural function for replenishing your mojo by providing time for creative ideas to hatch. Ironically, being bored can improve your overall brain health and help foster creativity, but when your brain falls into a monotonous slump, it can seek dopamine, which is a feel good hormone.

At MRC, we understand you may not be able to control when you feel bored or excited by a situation, but you can control your reaction to it. Let the creativity that boredom naturally triggers work in you favor. This includes identifying non-food distractions.