Bad Eating Habits

Question
Dear Cari,

I am trying to figure out some ways to stop eating habits that I have developed.  If I don't know exactly what I'll have for dinner (or sometimes even when I do) I'll often go to the fridge, open containers, and take bites of things until I decide what I want.  Often I feel like I've eating a whole dinner before I eat dinner!  If I'm making peanut butter and jelly I get one bite of peanut butter for every bit I spread on the sandwich.  If I'm chopping veggies or cheese to add to an omelette I'll snack on some of it before I begin cooking.  I don't like these habits because they feel compulsive.  Once I start it is difficult to stop picking and snacking.  Furthermore, I know "just don't do it" is the obvious answer, but somehow that's not working for me.  Usually this is worse when I'm extremely tired or over hungry, but sometimes it happens for no reason at all when I'm perfectly awake and have recently eaten.  I know there are no quick fixes, but wondered if you have any insight.  Thank you!

Answer
Hi Reena
I would try keeping a diary for a while so that you really do know when it's worse and when it's better.  is it a certain time of the day?  Is it after you've seen a particular person?  It feels to me as if your 'hunger' isn't for food but for something else.  Are you bored with your life?  when last did you feel fullly fulfilled?  I discuss this kind of eating in my second book, The Joy-Filled Body:  Eat! Play! Love and Live Light!  And you'll find a few pages on emotional eating on my website:  www.ditch-diets-live-light.com

Also, if you do find yourself wanting to snack, take out a smaller amount that you would east usually, and give yourself permission to eat it and then do so, but mindfully, savouring all the flavours  etc...
Acknowledge that you're feeding a head hunger and then let it go.
Hope that helps
Kind regards
Cari

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