Mindless Eating!

If you’re into nutrition and health, you’ve probably heard about those studies where they trick people into eating more calories simply by enlarging serving sizes. So if we’re aware of this mindless eating, we can overcome it, right? No, says Dr. Bryan Wansink of Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab.

Wansink has analyzed the eating habits of people in situations ranging from casual get-togethers to the work environment to public dining. In one recent study, he found that simply having a candy jar placed in close proximity in a person’s cubicle made them eat candy that on average totaled 125 extra calories per day. This might seem like an insignificant detail, but it adds up fast: 125 calories per workday is about 12 pounds per year. Wansink believes the basic rule of thumb is: ‘If you see it, you’ll eat it.’ He asserts that food quality and hunger levels actually rank low on the list of reasons why we overeat; instead, it’s all about accessibility.

Wansink’s tips: keep healthy foods VISIBLE and CONVENIENT, and realize you’re going to cave to fatty, non-nutritious foods if you have easy access to them. Here are some ideas:

• Individually packaged healthy snacks, such as apple or banana chips, 100-calorie packs, or granola bars
• Pre-made snacks such as fruit and yogurt parfaits (you can make them yourself) or washed, cut, and packaged fruit servings
• Keep a bowl filled with clean, ready-to-eat produce on your kitchen table or near an exit in your house so you can grab it and go
• When you do indulge, plan for it in both diet and exercise, and don’t keep it around; or, if you do keep it around, wrap it up and put it in the back of the fridge/freezer/pantry