The hustle and bustle of the holidays can be a killer on your diet, especially when you're trying to squeeze meal time in between shopping, decorating, gift wrapping, parties and more. It's important to remember to make mealtime count. {relatedarticles}That means giving all your attention to consuming your meal. By cutting out all of the distractions, you're less likely to become a mindless eater. Eliminate any distractions while you're eating. Turn off the radio. Switch off the television. Eat at the dinner table, not in a recliner, in your car or even at your desk at work. When you sit down at the table, eating should be your main focus. When other things are going on around you, you're less likely to concentrate on what you're eating and how much you're eating. This can cause you to overindulge.
By focusing on the task at hand, you'll be more likely to stick to the proper portion sizes. One myth that's recently been debunked is the speed at which you eat. {relatedarticles}Dieters have always been told to take a rest in between bites, but that's not the case. One British study revealed that people who took a break in between bites actually consumed more. While you shouldn't necessarily follow the old slow-and-steady wives' tale, it's important to enjoy your food instead of scarfing it down so fast that you don't know what you're eating. At the end of the day what matters most is the type of foods you're eating... and not eating.