Canada's food guide newsletter is out and highlighting what to eat, how to grocery shop safely and building new webpages for meal planning.
With all that is going on, it is normal to feel stressed or anxious. Perhaps the disruption to your routine has left you feeling bored. These feelings can have an impact on your eating habits. Being mindful creates a sense of awareness around your food choices and habits.
Keep these practices in mind:
- Even though your daily routine has changed, take time to eat. If you find yourself skipping meals or following an inconsistent schedule, set aside time throughout the day to eat meals and snacks.
- Create a healthy eating environment. Many people are spending more time at home than they usually do. Although this could result in eating more because food is easily accessible, it can also provide more opportunity to eat healthily. Make changes to your surroundings so that the healthy choice is the easy choice. For example, keep healthy food at home, create a pleasant atmosphere at mealtimes by playing music or setting the table in a way that you like, and eat with others if you live with your family or roommates.
- Pay attention when you are eating. Eating when you are distracted may increase the likelihood of you eating too much. Make mealtimes “electronic free” by taking a break from scrolling through your computer or cellphone and sitting down at the table instead of in front of the TV. An exception could be to eat meals with others over video or speakerphone if you live alone or if you want to mark a special occasion.
- Eat slowly and thoughtfully. Allow yourself time to enjoy the flavours of the food and enjoy the conversation if you are eating with your family or roommates
- Listen to and follow your hunger cues to decide when and how much to eat. Ask yourself if you are actually hungry and be aware that emotional eating and food availability can influence your choices.