Which fits for you:
- The only thing I can’t resist is temptation! Food is a comfort to me.
- Some days, when I’m feeling a tad under the weather or down in the dumps, I reach for the unhealthy snacks.
- Mostly, I eat when I’m hungry.
We use food for various reasons, and hunger isn’t always at the top of the list.
Striking up a healthy and balanced relationship with food is a positive thing. To eat consciously and enjoy each mouthful is an art in itself and the occasional overindulgence is fine too. Mainly, get to know your body so that you stop when you feel full.
Food fills a physical hunger but no amount of eating will fill an emotional hunger. If you find food makes you feel good, dig deep to work out if you can understand what it is that makes you not feel so good. Often, this comes down to feeling negative about yourself. Invest time and effort in the process of making friends with yourself. Treat yourself as you would like others to.
Become a conscious eater
Increase your awareness of how and what you eat. Start by making eating an occasion – even if it’s just a mid-morning snack. Always use a plate, sit down at a table and really think about the food in front of you. The speed at which you eat is also important. Slow down and put your knife and fork down between mouthfuls. You might like to try becoming a “neater eater”. As you take your next forkful, notice how tidy your plate looks. Focusing on what’s on your plate and eating slowly gets your brain in gear and gives it time to receive the signals from the stomach which say ‘I’m full… it’s time to stop’.
Eating slowly may help you control your appetite and watch your weight. Check out my video on how to manage cravings.
