Control Boredom by Adopting Mindful Eating

Many people find it difficult to control their appetite, especially with today’s ever increasing 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. Taking the time to enjoy a pre-planned snack can help you get more out of your day, and you should start with the simple act of slowing down.

You probably don’t need to do more to be less bored. It is a good idea to keep your refrigerator and cupboards full of appealing but healthy foods. That way, when you fall victim to misplaced hunger, it will make eating through your boredom less harmful by adding protein and nutrients to daily food intake.

Mindful eating plays a key role in appetite regulation…

Mindfulness is essential in being more aware of harmful food cravings and other causes of boredom eating. It is easy to say that you should only eat to satisfy real physical hunger. Listed below are some of the proven strategies for keeping emotional eating in check:

• Eat Mindfully – Practicing mindful eating encourages you to slow down and focus on the present. Noticing what you are truly feeling will help you avoid overeating or binge eating.
• Fresh Veggie Snacks – Keeping cut vegetables in the refrigerator can help you manage boredom eating. Although you may not really be hungry, you might as well eat something that compliments your daily food intake.
• Plain Popcorn Snacks – When air-popped, popcorn has only trace amounts of saturated fats. Since microwave popcorn most often contains hydrogenated oils, it is not the same as air-popped popcorn.
• 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.

Boredom eating is not new but it can be difficult for some…

While boredom eating is not new, it may be to some or more prevalent for others. Boredom eating is often triggered by sudden food cravings. One way to combat food cravings and the urge to eat is ask yourself why I am eating this. It can help you refocus a bored mindset.

Some people who overeat have a clinical disorder called binge eating disorder where they compulsively eat large amounts of food in a short time and feel guilty afterward. Engaging in mindless eating can lead to routine overeating, which increases your risk of developing an eating disorder, especially if your parents are overweight.

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.