Mindless Eating

Reviewed by Kate Rogers, Accredited Practising Dietitian

Perhaps you are one of the many people wondering why your weight has crept up over the years even though your diet hasn’t changed, but maybe you hadn’t noticed that your serving sizes have increased.

Brian Wansink is the author of a wonderfully inspiring book called “Mindless Eating”. Brian has spent a lifetime studying what most of us don’t notice: the hidden cues that determine how much and why people eat. Were you aware that the average person makes well over 200 decisions about food every day? Breakfast or no breakfast? Toast or cereal? Part of it or all of it? Kitchen or car? In this book Brian challenges us all to think twice before we take our next mouthful.

Obesity is a huge problem in most developed countries and there is no easy solution. Food is important. It nourishes us and helps us grow, function, develop, think and stay healthy. It surrounds us wherever we go and is eaten, thought about, discussed, purchased or prepared almost every waking hour. Food brings families and friends together. But food can also be a problem especially if we eat too much. The book discusses the different types of hunger: true physical hunger and deeper emotional hunger. He discusses the different types of comfort foods and busts a few myths about them.

Most of us think we’re too smart to be tricked by packages, lighting or different-sized plates, but most of us are blissfully unaware that we are constantly being tricked. We stop eating when our stomach is full, right? Wrong. The research shows it takes up to 20 minutes for our body and brain to signal fullness, but most of us start, finish and clear the table in less than 20 minutes. It’s amazing how much food you can devour in that time.

There are many different strategies recommended in the book to help you be a more mindful eater. One strategy is to start last and finish last at meal times. Another is to develop food trade-offs (eg. I can have dessert but I have to walk down to the shop to get it) and food policies (eg. never eat at my desk).

If you found yourself 3 km from home without a ride, what would you do? Even though you could get home much faster by running, most people would choose the easier option of walking. Each step brings you a little closer and before you know it, you’re halfway home with relatively little pain and discomfort. Losing weight can be like this. A slow steady walk that begins with rearranging your eating habits so they work for you not against you. Before long you will find the unwanted kilos slowly steadily shed off.

To quote from the book “The best diet is the one you don’t know you’re on.”

You can find out more at www.mindlesseating.org