How Should I Stop Mindless Eating After Dinner?

I Play the Banjo

Before kids, I bought a banjo so I could join my husband's bluegrass band. Over the past eight years, I've always said, "I don't have time to play." This was a great time to make time. After dinner was finished and the table cleared, I started picking up my banjo and playing on the couch, or, when it's nice outside, on the back deck.

Working on this hobby has not only distracted me from wanting to nibble after dinner, but it's a form of self-care, to tap into my musical side once again. Singing and playing has also helped my husband and I reconnect in sharing something we both love.

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I Get Crafty

Image Source: Getty / Guido Mieth

I minored in art in college, and painting, drawing, working with clay, doing beadwork, sewing, quilting, and knitting has always been a part of my life. If I don't feel like playing music, I get my creative juices flowing another way by bringing out the watercolor paints, practicing hand lettering with brush markers, or I turn on Art for Kids Hub on YouTube, and my kids and I practice our drawing skills.

This is another great way to get me out of the kitchen and turn my focus off food. Within five minutes, I'm so involved in creating art that noshing is far from my mind.

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I Get Outside

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Jenny Sugar

When the weather is nice enough — and my desire to keep eating is strong — instead of just getting out of the kitchen, sometimes I just need to get out of the house. A complete change of scenery, walking in the woods with my family, riding bikes in the neighbourhood, or playing games in the backyard helps me do something healthy by getting in a little NEAT. It's also great for calming down before bed (for my kids and for myself), and more importantly, it takes my mind off food.

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Find Your Favourite Way to Get Out of the Kitchen

Image Source: Getty / martin-dm

If you find that you share this same habit of continuing to eat after dinner is done, find a way to get out of the kitchen that you enjoy. Maybe playing music or going for a walk isn't your thing. Maybe you'd prefer sipping herbal tea on the couch while watching Netflix, or sitting on the porch reading an engageing novel. Maybe you want to take the time to call a friend, write in your journal, or unroll your yoga mat and do 10 minutes of stretching.

It might be hard at first to get into this new habit of staying out of the kitchen. But after a week or two, you'll be craving this special after-dinner time to yourself.

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