One of my favorite presentations at Food for Your Whole Life Symposium was Dr. Brian Wansink, author of Mindless Eating. A leader in the field of food psychology, he has unveiled a lot of the hidden influences on how much we eat, and how consumers make food choices. Did you know that we make at least 250 food choices every day?
Rather than being the next fad diet which promises you can lose weight effortlessly without thought, he uses years of food psychology research to re-engineer your food environment so that you will eat less without even knowing. While it is easy to blame fast food, big food, and the government for the rising rates of obesity in America, this food fight begins in our own homes.
Some tips for preventing Mindless Eating in YOUR life:
- We eat with our eyes not out stomachs- the first two things you put on your plate will take up over 60% of the space, so start with vegetables and whole grains first!
- The size of your dish also matters. Your eyes will be tricked into thinking a drink in a narrow, vertical glass, than the same amount in a wide tumbler, and you will be satisfied with less. Serve your drinks in narrow flutes, and your meals on smaller plates!
- Change your food environment: Put healthy food front and center. Eat out of small bowls and narrow glasses. Only eat in the kitchen and living room, not in front of your computer, television or fridge.
- Remove it from your line of sight: Instead of leaving dishes on the table, which encourages going for 2nds and 3rds without even realizing it, put the extra food on the kitchen counter. The food will still be there if you are hungry, but you won’t be tempted to mindlessly serve yourself more.
- Make 1 small change. Often this will create a ripple effect that leads to big differences. Create a check-list that you have to check off if you are completing this task each day.
- Be accountable! Finding a friend and stating your challenge, plans, and goals, makes you more likely to succeed.
I highly recommend you read his book “Mindless Eating” A fascinating read on the hidden forces that act on our food choices, and how easy it is to eat without thinking!
Have you read “Mindless Eating?” Have there been times when you have eaten mindlessly? Any tips or tricks for preventing this?
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Sounds like you are a fan of Dr. Wansink as I am and his book “Mindless Eating.” The research on why, how, what and when we eat is so interesting and informative. If we take the contents out of this book and apply it to our lifestyle, we are assured to stay at a healthy and lighter weight without putting any pressure on ourselves to do so. No calorie counting, no meal plans. Dr. Wansink says, “It’s a lot easier to change your environment than to change yourself.” How True. And the great Doctor has done all the groundwork!
Dr. Wansink has developed a weight loss plan called the Mindless Method based again on the book “Mindless Eating” combined with his years of research on eating behaviors he calls “Eating Scripts.” The Mindless Method is designed to promote weight loss by assigning proven solutions unique to each person’s eating scripts changing bad eating habits into positive eating habits, mindlessly. Check us out at http://www.mindlessmethod.com.
Dr. Wansink also developed a line of dinnerware called “Thinware.” Specifically created in shape, size, design and color to promote less and better eating. You can find thinware on http://www.mindlessproducts.com.
“The best diet is the one you don’t know you’re on.” – Brian Wansink
Mindless eating is indeed dangerous, I had no idea we made 250 food choices a day, its scary to think about. We have to educate ourselves on nutrition so we can make sure we make 250 smart choices a day.
My wife has written a number of articles on this subject and she would agree 100%. She even wrote 1 article entitles, “Eating is not an Olympic sport.”, which hits on severaI points you outlined. I’ll get her the book. She may pick up a few new ideas for us. Thanks for the review.