Are you struggling with a bad eating habit? Well, you are not alone in this. In this modern society, we have made it a habit to buy certain foods from certain stores, prepare the foods using the same recipes, and this is now a routine habit.
The Most Unhealthy Eating Habits
Most of us have adopted some bad eating habits that are really dangerous to our weights and health. If you want to get serious about your weight, health, and life, you need to shake these habits off. Here are some everyday bad eating habits and how to stop them.
Mindless Eating
This majorly comes from eating from a larger plate or bowl. When eating from a bigger plate, you are more likely to consume more unknowingly. Even more, you may find that eating from the container contributes to overeating.
How to Stop
To curb this habit, you need to eat from smaller bowls. If you have huge platters in your dining set, trade them with smaller salad plates and see the change.
Taking too Many Snacks
Snacking is good. However, when it becomes too much, you will be ingesting too many calories into your body. Most people snack on junk food such as salty chips, candies, and sodas.
How to Stop
You can stock up healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables. They are more nutritious and more resistible than sweet, unhealthy snacks.
Ordering in Too Much
Most people fall into this habit when they live in a city with lots of food delivery services. You may feel like cooking is too much work, especially when you have other works pending. While it is a great idea that saves time, it may end up being a bad habit. This is because most of the foods we order are fried, full of fat, and calories.
How to Stop
To stop this habit, you need to start preparing your meals in advance. You can store them in the freezer and eat the same meal for two days. Additionally, you can order an appetiser and then split the meal into two so that you do not ingest all the calories at once.
Sneaking Food
Everyone has sneaked food at one time. It is fun until it is a habit that you cannot stop. This mostly happens at night, and people often snack on unhealthy foods. Even after eating a sumptuous and healthy meal, you may still find yourself craving that soda or those sweet biscuits.
How to Stop
You can begin by stocking healthy foods and snacks for when you are genuinely feeling hungry. Alternatively, you can eat to your fill at dinner to avoid snacking after people have gone to bed.
Falling for Health Halo Foods
Watching food advertisements can be tempting. Besides the beautiful photos, advertisements can make the food seem healthier than they really are. Take an example of a bottle of juice; the advertisement will talk about how nutritious the juice is, how natural it is, and the nutrients in the juice, as well as the health benefits. The fact remains that the juice is unnatural and contains synthetic additives.
How to Stop
You need to ignore all the claims on the package as most of them are advertisement tactics. Additionally, as you purchase items, read the ingredient list and confirm whether the food contains nutritious ingredients.
Eating Past the Point of Fullness
Growing up, our guardians and parents told us to finish all the food we are served. It is a polite gesture to finish even when you are completely full. While it is a practice of good manners, it causes people to overeat on most occasions.
How to Stop
To avoid this, you should serve food in small portions so that you can finish. If you still feel unsatisfied, you can always add some more.
How to Quickly Stop These Habits
Get a support system- Talk to people in your circle and let them know what you have decided. You can start by letting your spouse or partner know; you might be surprised that they are willing to forego that snack or keep ice cream out of the house for your sake.
Have an accountability partner- Accountability works in ensuring that you understand the journey you have taken up and the progress you are making. If you cannot find a partner, make a habit of documenting every small step. Celebrate yourself for the progress.
Motivate yourself- One of the hardest things is staying happy and motivated while you have deprived the body of what it loves most. Always remember why you are doing it, and focus on the bigger picture; how lean and glamorous your body and health will be in a few years.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, we are what we eat. What you eat today will manifest in your body tomorrow. As such, you need to curb these bad eating habits early. As you purpose to stop these bad eating habits, it is important to remember that every time you forego your goals, you are strengthening the unhealthy habits. While most people aspire to build or break a habit in 21 days, it may take longer or shorter depending on the habit and the person in question. According to researchers, it can take anything between 18 to 254 days depending on the person, habit, and commitment towards the habit resolution. Appreciate yourself for every progress you make.