Top 10 Worst Eating Habits
1. Not Eating Nutritiously or Variously Enough
A well balanced diet, with meals and snacks rich in nutrients is essential for your health. Nowadays people seem to be too busy to take care of their own diet. This phenomenon has led to the increased demand for pre-prepared or semi-prepared food which is low in nutritious value, thus leading people to supplements. Prevention is always better than treatment, so instead of wasting your money on supplements, it would be better to just take your time and make yourself a well balanced and nutritious diet.
2. Poor Meal Planning
According to our readers, “time” is one of the biggest barriers to healthy eating, but last-minute decisions often lead to fast-food drive thrus and pizza delivery. Taking a few minutes to plan out weekly meals before shopping for the week will save you money, calories, and time in the long run.
3. Skipping Breakfast
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Most people, however, don’t have time for it and just grab a sugary snack which calms their appetite. Sugar does make the hunger go away, but it only lasts for about one or two hours and it doesn’t help in terms of nutrition…not mentioning the weight gain. Make time to eat a consistent breakfast and you’ll start your days much better and you will improve your health.
4. Too Many Meals Away From Home
Restaurants and take-out will always mean super-sized portions, along with more calories and sodium. Make the effort to prepare meals at home most nights of the week and use our tips when you do venture out.
5. Fast-food
Fast-food products have a high content of sodium and a lot of calories from saturated fats. Such products lack a lot of nutritious elements and, therefore, relaying too much on them might cause vitamins and minerals deficiency. Sure, fast-food is not poison and it’s not a crime to indulge yourself once in a while, but be careful not to make a habit out of it.
6 Too Much Added Sugar
Aside from the candies, cookies and soda that Americans already eat too much of, sugar is lurking in places you might not expect, like whole grain cereals, salad dressings, condiments and breads. Take inventory of the total sugar in your diet and find ways to cut back on those empty calories.
7 Eating Late in the Night eating night
It’s not a good idea to dine right before going to bed. During sleep, the stomach reduces its activity, thus taking longer to digest food. Also, calories have a higher chance of turning into fat due to body’s inactivity. This is also why you should avoid snacks after dinner.
8. Mindless Eating
Instead of just eating when hungry, many of us grab food when we’re bored, tired, stressed, happy, sad – you name it!
9. Eating in Front of the TV or Computer
Studies have shown that watching TV often distracts you from what you’re eating and you’re likely to consume with about half more than what you really need to. Sure, indulging yourself with some popcorn in the company of your friends at the cinema or some chips on your horror movies marathon night is fine once in a while, but taking your meals in front of the TV is just an exaggeration. The TV doesn’t belong in the kitchen so just relax and just try to enjoy your meal.
10. Not Drinking Enough Water
Some people fail to see the importance of water for our body. Water is important for the brain and all other organs. It also reduces hunger and helps detoxify the body. It is recommended to drink about 2 liters of water a day, plus the water from fruits, vegetables or other food products we eat. Some drinks, like soda and coffee, deplete our water reservoir so it’s best to avoid them when thirsty.
