| It is a typical day for me. I'm between classes at NYU | | | | make less healthy food choices in several ways: |
| and only have 15 minutes to grab a bit to eat. I juggle | | | | #1 We eat larger portions. It's hard to keep track of |
| an apple in one hand, my iPhone in the other, and still | | | | how many chips you are eating when you're watching |
| try to keep my eyes on traffic as I attempt to cross | | | | the game. If you are going to be distracted while |
| the street. It seems as though I never get time to slow | | | | consuming your food, try to set aside a small portion, |
| down, unless I'm in my yoga class where my mind | | | | rather than eating right out of the family-size bag. |
| finally stops racing. And as I toss my apple core in the | | | | #2 We eat more food and feel less satisfied. When |
| trash, I think about how I "can't wait to eat a real meal | | | | you are not thinking about the food you consume, you |
| later." | | | | typically feel unsatisfied at the end of the meal. When I |
| For many of us, sitting down to enjoy our food has | | | | eat at work, I feel like I missed out and I look forward |
| become a luxury, not a regular way of life. And | | | | to the "real meal" I get to have later. But like it or not, |
| creating a healthy eating plan is one luxury we should | | | | that "unreal" meal I just consumed still has "real" |
| be making a priority. The benefits are a healthier, more | | | | calories that will add to the scale later. |
| satisfied life. I for one hate eating on the run. It is that | | | | #3 We eat more processed foods. A good majority |
| type of mindless eating that I know can cause more | | | | of the foods that can be eaten without silverware |
| issues. What is more important is being tuned in to my | | | | come out of a package. These pre-packaged foods |
| food. | | | | are generally less nutritious than a more natural |
| With the invention of the TV tray to accompany the | | | | alternative. Keeping foods like apples, bananas, |
| TV dinner, more Americans are finding ways to | | | | avocados, pears, carrots and celery are all good ways |
| multitask while eating. These days, our environment | | | | to keep a healthy diet. Some packaged foods that can |
| makes it is easy to find a way to eat on the go. Cup | | | | also be good for you are natural nuts, dried fruit (with |
| holders are conveniently placed in our front and back | | | | no added sugar) and Larabars. These are all great |
| seats, drive-thru service is available at many locations, | | | | additions to your healthy eating plan. |
| and packaged snacks can be picked-up at any small | | | | So, to adopt a healthy meal plan immediately and |
| shop and consumed with no utensils while driving, | | | | reduce your mindless eating, follow these healthy living |
| walking and working. We are becoming programmed | | | | tips: |
| to think about everything except our food when we | | | | - Avoid eating in front of the TV. |
| eat! This is no way to stay healthy. We have created | | | | - Try not to eat while driving. |
| a culture full of mindless eaters with no healthy eating | | | | - Make an effort to think about your food while you |
| plan. And while life is busy, and at times there seems | | | | consume it. |
| to be no other options, being aware of healthy | | | | - When you can, sit down to eat your food instead of |
| alternatives and trying our best to plan out our meals | | | | eating on the run. |
| can help us avoid adding inches to our waistline that | | | | With a little bit of effort, we can fight the mindless |
| comes with habitual mindless eating. | | | | eating battle and go back to enjoying our food! |
| When we don't think about our meals, it can lead us to | | | | |