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I do not have a home-office; my office is anywhere I bring my laptop. It might be the same for you. I often have to pass through the kitchen to get to my “office”, and choosing to avoid the refrigerator for a snack is a conscious decision. I have had many clients lately report that working at home can lead to mindless snacking. According to Healthline.com, “Mindful eating is about developing awareness of your experiences, physical cues, and feelings about food.” Here are some tips on how to be more mindful with your eating:
- Eating while working or watching TV.
- Eating when emotional such as bored, lonely or sad.
- Eating more when already full.
- Eating while standing in a random spot.
- Eat slowly and without distraction. Put down your phone, turn off the TV and computer.
- Listen to physical hunger cues (eat only until you’re full).
- Distinguish between true hunger and non-hunger triggers for eating. Drink a glass of water and decide if you are still hungry for food.
- Engage your senses by noticing colors, smells, sounds, textures, and flavors.
- Eat to maintain overall health and well-being.
- Choose a spot to eat such as sitting down at a table.
- You may want to look at some of your own personal triggers, but one easy habit is to make sure food is out of sight between meals.
Try preparing some healthy snacks ahead of time so that chips and candy aren’t the only convenient snacks to grab! Here is a great list of 29 healthy snack ideas and high protein snacks. Fill some baggies on Sunday that you can grab from the fridge throughout the week when you are hungry.
Health tip provided by Patti Miller, RDN