Eating habits and behaviors
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Food gives our bodies the energy we need to function. Food is also a part of traditions and culture. This can mean that eating has an emotional component as well. For many people, changing eating habits is very hard.
You may have had certain eating habits for so long that you do not realize they are unhealthy. Or, your habits have become part of your daily life, so you do not think much about them.
Keep a Journal
A food journal is a good tool to help you learn about your eating habits. Keep a food journal for 1 week.
Write down what you eat, how much, and what times of the day you are eating.
Include notes about what else you were doing and how you were feeling, such as being hungry, stressed, tired, or bored. For example, maybe you were at work and were bored, so you got a snack from a vending machine down the hall from your desk.
At the end of the week, review your journal and look at your eating patterns. Decide which habits you want to change.
Remember, small steps lead to more success in making long-term changes. Try not to overwhelm yourself with too many goals. It is a good idea to limit your focus to no more than 2 to 3 goals at one time.
Also, take a look at the healthy habits you have and be proud of yourself about them. Try not to judge your behaviors too harshly. It is easy to focus only on your poor habits. This can make you feel stressed or give you doubts about trying to change. Try outAlpilean.
Taking on new, healthier habits may mean that you:
Drink skim or low-fat (1%) milk instead of 2% or whole milk.-
Drink more water throughout the day.
Eat fruit for dessert instead of cookies.
Plan and prepare healthy meals and snacks to increase your chance of success.
Keep healthy snacks at work. Pack healthy lunches that you make at home.
Pay attention to your feelings of hunger. Learn the difference between physical hunger and habitual eating or eating as a response to stress or boredom.
Now Reflect
Think about what triggers or prompts may be causing some of your eating habits.
Is there something around you that makes you eat when you are not hungry or leads you to choose unhealthy snacks?
Does the way you feel make you want to eat?
Look at your journal and circle any regular or repetitive triggers. Some of these might be:
Seeing your favorite snack in the pantry or vending machine
Watching television
Feeling stressed by something at work or in another area of your life
Having no plan for dinner after a long day
Attending events where food is served
Stopping at fast-food restaurants and choosing high fat, high calorie foods
Feeling the need for a pick-me-up toward the end of your workday