Strategies to Prevent Overeating and Eat Mindfully

Strategies to Prevent Overeating and Eat Mindfully

The best way to circumvent your triggers for overeating: eat mindfully. It's a strategy that teaches you to listen to your body’s signals that tell you when, what and how much to eat.

Mindful eating is also a habit that allows you to forgo restrictive diet rules. It’s a simple technique that enables you to pay attention to what you eat and how you live—so you can create new, healthier habits, achieve weight loss goals, and live a richer life.

Strategies to Master Mindful Eating

As with any new habit, mindful eating takes practice. One of the ultimate goals of mindful eating is to stop eating when you are comfortably full or satisfied. To help you do this, follow the 13 strategies below next time you eat: 

1. Pause before eating and ask yourself, “How hungry am I on a scale of 1 to 10?” One signifies “ravenous” while five is “satisfied” and ten is “sick to your stomach,” you’re so full.

2. Ask yourself, “How much food will fit comfortably in my stomach?” Then eat only that much, not more.

3. Pay close attention to the appearance, aroma, taste and texture of your food; savor each bite. Place your utensil down and sit back in your chair between bites and pay full attention to the flavor and texture of each one as you chew.

4. Take frequent breaks during meals. Take a deep breath and check in with your body to determine how full you are.

5. Chew slowly, mindfully, and thoroughly.

6. Finish chewing one bite of food before scooping another bite onto your fork or spoon. You can slow down, reduce your intake, and better enjoy the taste and experience of your food by paying full attention to one bite at a time.

8. Sip—don’t gulp—your beverage.

9. If you’re sharing your meal with others, engage in conversation with them.

10. Know that this will not be the last time you eat these foods because you can enjoy them again at another meal or snack, especially if you have leftovers.

11. Save leftovers for when you are hungry and need to fuel your body again.

12. If you find yourself continuing to eat once full, ask yourself “Does this food taste as good now that I’m full?”

13. Wait 10 to 15 minutes before going for seconds. You’ll be able to more accurately determine how full you are, since it takes this much time for your stomach to signal your brain.