Taking control of our weight loss program requires a conscious evaluation of our behaviors–including our shopping behaviors. If you’ve followed our past blogs about Brian Wansink and his studies on mindless eating, you’ll enjoy this fascinating video study about how the mind works when we visit the supermarket.
While we may not realize it, Wansink says we alter our shopping habits based on subtle visual cues–like small changes in signage. What can we learn from Brian? Grocery shopping is healthier when we develop a list of wholesome foods beforehand–and determine to stick to it when we’re in the grocery aisles.
Interested? For part 2 of the Buyology series, tune in to tomorrow’s blog.
At Barker Bariatric Center, we see many patients who struggle with mindless eating. Feeling powerless to fend off food, these individuals turn to snacking for comfort and emotional support. We encourage all of our patients to address mindless eating habits before surgery, so they’ll experience greater weight loss success after their procedure.
But how do we stop eating mindlessly?
While there are many theories out there about the prevention of mindless eating, Professor Brian Wansink is an authority on the subject. Best known for his studies in food psychology and eating behavior, Wansink addresses the food decisions and environmental triggers that lead to overeating. “Most of us don’t overeat because we’re hungry. We overeat because of family and friends, packages and plates, names and numbers, labels and lights, colors and candles, shapes and smells, distractions and distances, cupboards and containers,” says Wansink on his website, MindlessEating.org. “Most people believe they are Master and Commander of their food choices. I want them to see that they aren’t. But I also want them to see that they can make small changes that can put them back in the driver’s seat.”
Wansink’s tips on conquering the mindless eating monster include serving 20-percent less food at meals, dishing up smaller plates and eating snacks from small, portion-sized baggies rather than straight out of the box. For more helpful hints, check out his book, Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More than We Think. Filled with helpful insights about comfort food, portion sizes and food marketing schemes, the book can help you approach eating more healthfully—and consciously.
***Tune in tomorrow for a compelling video interview with Brian Wansink. In the meantime—for more information about Wansink and his innovative nutritional research—visit his website.
