Avoid Knee-Jerk Reactions to Sudden Food Cravings

It is important to notice when you are eating due to boredom. Sounds easy but it is not. You must be aware of emotional states that lead to knee-jerk reactions during the day around others or when you are alone late at night. Every now and then, take the time to just do nothing and embrace doing nothing. You might be surprised how quickly you will learn to value these moments.

Since boredom drives you to participate in behaviors that result in pleasure, it isn’t difficult to see how easy it is to make a tendency for bored-eating to become a bad habit. Some people reach for a cigarette but for others food does the trick. True hunger pangs will grow stronger the longer it has been since you’ve last eaten your last meal or snack.

Take time to understand your food cravings…

If you are craving real foods that are naturally wholesome and filling, chances are you are experiencing true hunger. Here are some tactics that can help you avoid giving in to food cravings caused by a temporary state of boredom:

• Plan for Distractions – Have your favorite herbal tea sitting out with water in the pot, that way you can flip the switch when you have feelings involving food.
• Hydrate Your Body – Snacking on a fiber-rich water filled snack, such as celery or cucumber slices, will help reduce your cravings and hydrate your body with added vitamin and mineral intake.
• Healthy Snacks – Most often, portion size is the biggest problem people have with boredom eating. If you bag your own 100-calorie snacks ahead of time, you can choose to eat healthier foods and your snacks will be accounted for as part of daily food consumption.
• Take a Power Nap – A study at Stanford University concluded that a lack of sleep can increase ghrelin production (hunger hormone), while suppressing the release of leptin, which can lead to overeating.

Don’t let boredom eating ruin your health…

If your job is painfully boring, you might consider a new job. If your life is chronically boring, you might want to change it. But, do not let boredom eating ruin your good health. Manage your eating habits with healthy snacks from MRC. Once you’ve made your decision to improve your health, your goal setting strategy for overcoming boredom eating should be specific, attainable, realistic, time bound, and easy to measure. By avoiding boredom eating, you can boost your mood and reduce feelings of fatigue. Eating foods that are good for you may help you keep up with the demands of your busy life by improving how you feel.

If you are looking for help, get connected with an MRC Team near you. Our local teams of professional weight loss specialists have all the tips, tricks, and tools you’ll need to lose the weight, enjoy the process, and keep it off for a lifetime.