4 Ways to stop mindless eating

UpdatedTrends.com: If one of your goals for 2014 is to be healthier, eat better or lose some weight, you need to learn how to improve your relationship with food first. Knowing the difference between being really hungry and having just a craving is important if you want to stop eating mindlessly and here are 4 ways to achieve this.

1. Slow down – Your body needs approximately 15 to 20 minutes to experience satiety, so it is very easy to overeat if you do not take this into consideration and just shovel food down your throat. You will digest your food better if you eat slowly, while eating too fast can cause bellyache afterwards.

2. Put your fork down between every bite – During your next meal, try taking only one bite at a time. Remember to put your fork down, chew slowly and actually enjoy the taste, aroma and texture of your delicious food.

3. Drink a glass of water – A huge percentage of people are chronically dehydrated and it is very likely you are one of them. It is almost impossible to distinguish between the sensations of hunger and thirst, so make sure you drink a glass of cold water before every meal in order to prevent overeating.

4. Give yourself an additional 5 to 10 minutes to eat – If you eat too fast, the possibility of overeating increases and in order to avoid this, give yourself 10 minutes for breakfast tomorrow if you usually take 5 minutes right now. Be patient and completely immerse yourself in the eating experience.

Photo Credits: Mirror