How Much Time Do You Spend Thinking About Food?
sxc.hu: lusi
I was listening to the news this morning and heard the results of an interesting study.
Apparently, women spend two years of their lives thinking about food!
The study found that every day, more than 44 minutes is dedicated to thinking about the next meal, or daydreaming of snacking in between.
That’s a mammoth five hours and nine minutes each week…
The equivalent of almost one day of every month…
Or, one year and 11 months over the average adult lifetime.
WHAT?? Isn’t that a ridiculously crazy amount of wasted time in one lifetime???
Apparently, you men are a little wiser than us women, only spending 39 minutes per day. Or, ten days a year thinking about food.
So, how do you feel about these figures? Can you relate them to your own life?
Shockingly, more than a third of the Brits surveyed said thoughts of their next meal is the only thing that gets them through their day at work.
Wow… perhaps it’s time to look for another job?
But, what is a good approach to dieting and food?
We’re always being told to “Watch your health.” Or, “Lose weight.” Or, “Exercise more.” So, how can you do that without getting obsessed?
I think that’s a difficult question. And, I know that for some people the only way they can maintain control of things is to be constantly aware of calories, always planning and thinking ahead about what they will eat.
But, I think it is possible to do this without getting crazy over it—isn’t it?
How about simply taking a non-diet approach to, well, dieting?
This is simply common sense—eat what you should, avoid what you shouldn’t, allow a few indulgences once in a while, don’t skip meals, and don’t eat when you’re not hungry.
Am I being too simplistic? What are your thoughts? How do you avoid a food obsession?
11771
2072
853
12 Comments
John W. Zimmer
09.11.2009
Hi Melanie,
Wow – that sounds like a lot of time. I am finding now that I already know what I am eating and when – I don’t spend near as long thinking about it.
I like your undiet approach because as you say it is more just having a plan and making good choices. If diet stresses you out – call it a meal plan
The biggest thing I finally realized is I cannot eat as much as when I was younger. I had an egg sandwich this morning – one egg, light mayo, light cheese, and low-cal bread with a small glass of orange juice.
In the old days (not so long ago) I would have had 3 eggs scrambled with lots of grated cheese, hash browns, sausage, toast and anything else that was “leftover” on my family’s plate. I was a growing boy/man!
Growing it is the operative word… unfortunately it was sideways
.-= John W. Zimmer´s last blog ..Staying on Course is Tough; Use Real Numbers! =-.
Melanie
09.12.2009
John,
I think you make a great point, when you’ve been following a healthier lifestyle for a while, is does become part of your life, and you don’t need to think about it constantly–although I don’t think this works if you are constantly following some sort of “diet” plan–another reason to avoid them if you ask me!
Healthy Eating Guide
09.11.2009
Love the comment about a non-dieting approach … I think you bring up a great point here. Many people overthink healthy eating with all these diets telling them to eat this and that but like many others things, in simplicity lies beauty.
Melanie
09.12.2009
Healthy Eating Guide,
So true! I hate how people assume they need a “diet” to lose weight! Simplicity is the key!
Ruth
09.12.2009
2 years of my life thinking about food…
I’ve probably spent more than two years thinking about food, and I’m only 31! haha…
I am always preoccupied with food, whether it be how healthy my family is eating, wondering what to do for lunch or dinner, what to shop for, what to pack for the kids breakfast at Kindergarten, whether I should leave that last cookie in the pack or just eat it and throw away the evidence (wrapper)…
When I’m not thinking about food, I’m shopping for it, cooking it or looking for recipes! lol (It doesn’t help that I like to think about, shop for, and prepare food)
I agree, we don’t really need a “diet” to lose weight. In fact, diets usually lead to chronic yo-yo dieting because we go on and off diets. Most people approach diets as something they will do for a while, until the unwanted pounds are gone, and then they can go back to eating as they like to, hoping the pounds won’t pile on again. But they do. So dieting is not a good approach.
What I’ve found helpful has been to schedule time to think about food. If I plan my meals once a week, I don’t have to think about what I’ll cook for the different meals. If I make sure those meals are healthy, I don’t have to obsess about how healthily I’m feeding my family. And if I plan on what I’m going to eat, and schedule regular meals, including snacks, and already prepare my portions (of things like nuts), I’m a lot less likely to go hungry, get cravings, obsess about food and overeat. Of course, you have to plan for little treats now and then.
I guess the fact that I comment on this blog already says much about the role food and dieting plays in my life
Melanie
09.16.2009
Hi Ruth,
I couldn’t agree more with your approach—scheduling time to think about food and planning meals, that would be my advice summed up completely!!
I’d be interested to know how much time I spend thinking about food considering I’m a dietitian and it’s my job!! Although, I suppose as long as you’re not obsessed it’s not really an issue
Ruth
09.12.2009
There’s a book called “Food Addiction, the body knows”, which addresses food addiction and how thoughts about food plague some people’s minds all day long. She suggests making a sensible food plan, and eating what you planned to eat to stop the obsession. She also recommends abstaining from foods that you obsess about and that make you obsess even more about food.
Some of us just have to learn to eat to live, not live to eat!
Great topic, Melanie.
BTW, have you found pregnancy making you more or less aware of the food you eat? Did you experience cravings?
Melanie
09.16.2009
Ruth,
Sounds like an interesting book.
I’ve definitely become much more aware of what I eat now that I’m pregnant, I talked a little about that in my article today on artificial sweetener. And no, I haven’t had any cravings the whole way through—I must be a very strange case!
Ruth
09.16.2009
You’re lucky…
I craved pringles during my 1st and 2nd, overindulged a couple of times and decided to find a subsitute for them! Nothing worse than pringle-bloat plus pregnant belly!
With my 3rd, I craved tomato and avocado sandwiches. At least it was a healthier craving! I had one a day for a couple of weeks straight!
Melanie
09.21.2009
Hey Ruth,
Tomato and avocado sandwiches??? Interesting combo!!!
Carla
09.26.2009
I know I think about food a great deal. Having allergies and food intolerances will do that to you! Since I cant eat gluten (and a lot of other grains) soy, legumes, most sugars, starches, I think about what I can and cant eat a lot. I’m used to it and it doesn’t run me like I used to.
.-= Carla´s last blog ..Green and Chic Reader Survey =-.
Melanie
09.28.2009
Carla,
I think the key is not to allow it to run your life, it’s the obsession some people get when “dieting” I find unhealthy.
10 Killer Tips For Rapid Weight Loss | Health Source
10.08.2009
[...] How Much Time Do You Spend Thinking About Food? (dietriffic.com) [...]
10 Killer Tips For Rapid Weight Loss | Laura Whites Fat Loss Blog
12.04.2009
[...] How Much Time Do You Spend Thinking About Food? (dietriffic.com) Share and Enjoy: [...]
Weight Loss Tips- Effective Weight Loss Tips to Help You Succeed | Fat Loss Done EZ
12.22.2009
[...] How Much Time Do You Spend Thinking About Food? (dietriffic.com) [...]
Weight Loss Tips! What is the Best Way to Burn Fat? | Fat Loss Done EZ
01.05.2010
[...] How Much Time Do You Spend Thinking About Food? (dietriffic.com) Originally posted 2008-11-05 20:06:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter [...]
Simple Health Tips — Healthy Eating by Dietriffic
01.21.2010
[...] sure I’ve said it here before, but it’s as if people refuse to be content with the simple message of healthy eating. To some, fad diets are the only way… which unfortunately isn’t helped by mainstream [...]
There are no trackbacks to display at this time.