Dinner Habits You Need to Stop Right Now
By Genevieve Cunningham
When it comes to staying fit and healthy, your eating habits are among the most important habits to monitor. When we eat too much of the wrong foods, it affects everything from weight to mental clarity to energy. But if we're being completely and totally honest with ourselves, eating habits are some of the hardest habits to change. Luckily, changing your habits and keeping your health under control may be as simple as starting with dinner. If you're ready to make positive changes in your diet and life, take a look at these dinner habits that you need to get under control as soon as tonight.
Snacking Before Dinner
As dinner time rolls around, we often start to get really hungry. As a result, we might reach for a quick snack, especially appetizer type foods. Olives, pickles, crackers -- just a few won't hurt, right? But this can actually add hundreds of calories to your diet before you even start your meal. If you need to eat a little bit before dinner, go for it, but add those calories into your overall consumption and adjust your dinner accordingly. If you can't do that, skip the snacking altogether and wait for your meal instead.
Soda
We all love soda. We love the bubbles, the sweet flavor, and the caffeine. But do we really need it with dinner? When we have soda with dinner, we add unnecessary calories to our meal. And if you choose caffeinated soda, you may also be diminishing your chances of good sleep. Instead, choose water. Water is the best drink for your body! If you need flavor, consider an herbal tea without caffeine. Just skip the soda, and you'll be well on your way to better health.
Second Helpings
Usually, second helpings are not necessary. When we reach for second helpings, it's usually because we like the flavor of the meal. We enjoy the process of eating. But are we actually hungry? Probably not! If you normally reach for a second helping, consider cutting this habit completely out of your routine. Fill your plate, eat until full, and then stop eating to keep your calories under control.
Dinner is a meal that people like to enjoy. We like to take our time to savor the flavor and the company, too. But along with enjoyment, it's also important to develop good dinner habits to keep our bodies healthy. Use these tips to create good habits and enjoy your dinner and your health at the same time.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Glen Carbon, Ill.