Tips on how to break unhealthy eating habits

Too much desert increases your risk of weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. Picture: Pexels/Ella Olsson

Too much desert increases your risk of weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. Picture: Pexels/Ella Olsson

Published Aug 14, 2024

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We all want to end bad habits but that’s a tough job, isn’t it? Eating unhealthily is one of those bad habits that you need to get rid of right away. It affects our bodies more than you can imagine. If you just knew these few tips, you would never want to eat like that again.

Here are quick fixes for some of the most common bad eating and lifestyle habits that can cause you to pack some kilograms.

When you skip meals, your metabolism begins to slow, plus, breakfast gives you that boost of energy you need to take on your day. Picture: Pexels/Jane Trangdoan

Skipping breakfast

You know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but with so many other tasks competing for your attention, you may decide you don’t have time to eat.

When you skip meals, your metabolism begins to slow, plus, breakfast gives you that boost of energy you need to take on your day.

Without this fuel, chances are, you will just overeat later. Have ready healthy breakfast foods you can consume on the run. If you are rushed, try easy items such as whole fruit, yoghurt, homemade cereal bars and smoothies.

Night-time eating

Dieticians recommend you stop eating at night, especially if you want to lose weight. The solution here is to think that the kitchen is closed at night. If you feel like eating something, then eat fruit.

Too much desert increases your risk of weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. Picture: Pexels/Ella Olsson

Eating dessert with every meal

There is nothing wrong with dessert in moderation but if you are in the habit of rewarding yourself with dessert every time you eat, or every single day, you might notice some health concerns.

Too much desert increases your risk of weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. Enjoy it occasionally, but consider training yourself so you don’t have to have it every day.

Endless snacking

Here is an unfortunate quirk many are at fault for - nibbling nonstop, regularly on unhealthy food sources that are loaded with void carbs.

Studies reveal that it isn’t only an issue for grown-ups: kids are eating increasingly more frequently on unfortunate low-quality nourishment, including things like candy.

To fix this, keep snacks like carrots, cucumber cuts, yoghurt, almonds and air-popped popcorn reachable. Also, try not to stock your work area with potato chips or treats you realise you cannot go without.

Wolfing down your food, whether you are snacking or eating a meal, does not give your brain time to catch up with your stomach. Picture: Pexels/My Foodie

Eating too quickly

Wolfing down your food, whether you are snacking or eating a meal, does not give your brain time to catch up with your stomach. Your brain doesn’t signal that you are full until about 15 to 20 minutes after you have started eating.

If you gulp down your meal in 10 minutes or less, you could end up eating way more than you need. To slow down your eating, physically put your fork down between bites, take smaller bites, and be sure to chew each bite thoroughly.

Also, drinking water throughout your meal will help you slow down and feel fuller as you go.

Emotional eating

You had a terrible day at the workplace, and when you return home, you open the fridge and eat - not a decent eating rule methodology.

Various investigations affirm that feelings, both good and gloomy, can make individuals eat more than they ought to, a simple weight reduction hindrance.

To fix this, you can vent and take a portion of the pressure off your shoulders. Choose any movement you like as long as it keeps you out of the kitchen.

Aim to be more mindful when you eat and tune into how hungry and full you are. Picture: Pexels/Ketut Subiyanto

Distracted eating

You are eating alone, so you reach for your phone and text, scroll the 'gram, or play games. Or you read the paper, watch television, or use your computer.

All of these distractions take your attention away from eating and make it harder for you to experience and tune in to how satiated or full you are.

That can lead you to eat more than you are hungry for, either now or later. Aim to be more mindful when you eat and tune into how hungry and full you are.

Hydrate yourself

Water is crucial for the proper functioning of your brain cells and every organ in your body (including your skin).

Your body needs at least eight glasses of pure water daily to burn out fat. Water not only quenches your thirst; it decreases hunger and removes toxins. Liquids such as soda and coffee drain water from your body.

So, drink plenty of water.