Mindless eating often leads to overeating and eating out of boredom. Have you ever asked yourself when was the last time you ate in peace, truly savouring all the tastes and textures of delicious food you have a day in day out? If you can’t even begin to remember, it means you’re eating mindlessly just like the majority of people today. Therefore, you need to change the way your eating, as well as what you eat in order to keep your diet on track, but not feel as if you’re missing out on anything.
Practice mindful eating
Unlike the ancient meals which were prepared at home weeks in advance, eaten slowly and savoured, modern meals are often not homemade, they’re rushed and ate standing up which consequently leads to mindless eating. Science has proved that chewing slowly and enjoying meals with loved ones is much better for our well-being, because slow eating improves digestion, prevents overeating and helps control your weight.
Practicing mindful eating will also prevent all those junk food cravings because you won’t be eating out of boredom if you’re actually aware of what you have for breakfast, lunch and dinner. One of the ways to practice mindful eating is to ask yourself if you’re tired, lonely, anxious or actually hungry when you reach for food the next time. If you’re not actually hungry but you still feel the need to have food, distract yourself with walking, or maybe practicing your favorite hobby. Eating without distractions such as television, computer or your phone will also help you eat mindfully.
Plan for your meals
Instead of ordering takeout meals from fast food joints or eating at the restaurant, you should plan for every meal and do your best to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner from freshly made ingredients. A hectic lifestyle can often come in the way of food planning which is essential for keeping a well-balanced diet. If you do not have the time to create your meal plan and prepare fresh food, you should look for experts such as those at My Muscle Chef who know exactly what type of food to offer you for each meal in order to fuel your body with all the right nutrients. With carefully planned meals that are made by the team of qualified chefs, you’ll be able to control your calorie intake, eat healthily and transform your body easily.
Add leafy greens to smoothies
If you decide to have a smoothie in the morning, make sure you mix in the leafy greens, because they contain a high content of water. A fruit smoothie contains a high level of natural sugar, and an extra water boost from leafy greens will be a wonderful supplement. Organic spinach, bok choy and kale are all great choices that will add creaminess to your morning drink, but also provide you with enough vitamins, antioxidants, fiber and minerals. To add sweetness put in a few fresh or frozen blueberries, strawberries or any other fruit of your choice.
Start your day with a healthy breakfast
Starting your day with a nutritious breakfast, instead of with a bowl of cereals, will make sure your body won’t be craving sugars in between meals. Avoid mid-morning snacks by having a high-fat low carb breakfast. Consider having two eggs with avocado, a smoothie with flax, chia or MCT oil, or full-fat Greek yogurt with a little bit of almond butter to make sure you’re satisfied until your next meal.
Make healthy dessert swaps
If you’re accustomed to having a chocolate bar after lunch or just munching on sweets during the day, you’ll have a hard time giving that habit up at first. Sugary sweets will cause weight gain and are one of the common causes of breakouts, so if you need your daily dose of sweetness, think about swapping your frozen yogurt with sugary toppings for a baked apple. Core the apple, place it on baking paper, sprinkle it with a bit of cinnamon and Stevia, and only one apple can satisfy your sugar cravings in a minute. Unsweetened Greek yogurt can be a great substitute for ice cream. If you add one tablespoon of almond butter to it and a half a pack of Stevia to sweeten it up, you’ll get a low-carb snack very rich in protein and with a low content of sugar too. What’s more, Greek yogurt is filled with probiotics which means it’ll aid your digestion too.
Final thoughts
You can easily keep your diet on track without any fear of missing out on the sweet stuff or anything else. All you need to do is make sure you are eating mindfully and really enjoy all the food you’re having. Try to plan your meals and always have fresh food that is rich in all the nutrients your body needs to stay lean. If you start your day with a nutritious breakfast and swap sugary treats with healthy alternatives you’ll keep your diet on track easily and notice how you’ll both feel and look amazing.
