Food manufacturers want you to eat. In fact, they want you to overeat. The more calories you consume, the more money you put into their pockets. I was reminded of this a few minutes ago as I was making dinner. I looked down at the counter at a leftover jar of salsa. Printed on the top in big bold letters was the phrase “EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT HUNGRY.” This manufacturer is making a bold statement that their product is good even if you aren’t hungry. Now generally speaking salsa is a fairly healthy food, although it is often high in sodium (and it doesn’t taste right without the salt). But no matter how healthy the food is, there is no reason to eat when you’re not hungry, unless you have a medical condition (such as nausea) making food unappealing for an extended time period. Would you put gasoline in your car if the needle was pointing to Full? Perhaps if you knew the gas gauge was broken.
Do yourself a favor and listen to your body. When it tells you that you need to eat, go ahead and have a healthy snack. Avoid eating to change your mood or because it’s conveniently placed in front of you. Find other outlets to express yourself and feel better, such as sports or other physical activities. They work a lot better than food. Also, if you’re trying to lose weight, keep the snack foods pre-portioned and out of convenient reach. Leaving snacks, especially unhealthy ones, on your desk is a recipe for over-indulgence.
