101 alternatives to mindless eating
Are you an emotional eater? A mindless eater? Don't worry! You have options!
Mindless and emotional eating are two ways to lose track of what and how much you are eating. Both disconnect you from your body's true needs for food as fuel. But don't worry! You have many other options. Eat for fuel, and try one of these for emotional hunger.
- Call a friend
- Go for a walk
- Clean a drawer
- Paint your nails
- Get a coloring book
- Pop in a mint
- Play cards
- Take a bath
- Go for a drive
- Organize your closet
- Get a haircut
- Chew a piece of gum
- Explore nature
- Visit the animal shelter
- Get a massage
- Do yard work
- Update your address book
- Volunteer at a local hospital
- Plant some flowers
- Clean the bathroom
- Walk around the block
- Read a book
- Give yourself a makeover
- Write a letter to a friend
- Plan a trip
- BREATHE!
- Try yoga
- Clean a closet
- Drink some tea
- Learn to play an instrument
- Volunteer at a local soup kitchen
- Verbalize your feelings
- Give yourself a pedicure
- Brush your teeth
- Visit elderly at a nursing home
- Chop veggies to keep on hand
- Let yourself cry
- Take a shower
- Experiment with calming essential oils
- Balance your checkbook/bank account
- Do the dishes by hand
- Finish an unfinished project
- SCREAM!
- Start a new hobby
- Send a card to a friend
- Plant some herbs
- Light a candle
- Take 5 deep breaths
- Journal your feelings
- File your bills
- Update your calendar
- Learn to knit or crochet
- Dust your ceiling fans
- Go for a bike ride
- Read a favorite book
- Buy yourself some flowers
- Put your feet up for a while
- Wash your car
- Do laundry
- Learn a new language
- Do a crossword puzzle
- Say a prayer
- Plan a fun date
- Do something nice for someone anonymously
- Cook or bake something for a neighbor
- Tune up your bike
- Watch a home movie
- Sweep the garage
- Explore new exercise options
- Sort your mail
- Rent a movie
- Meditate
- Read a self-help book
- Make a to-do list
- Take a nap
- Browse local real-estate listings
- List 5 things you are thankful for
- Watch the bloopers to your favorite sitcom
- Write a thank you note
- Learn a new word and find ways to use it in your vocabulary
- Create a picture calendar
- Change your hair color
- Volunteer at a local food pantry
- Scrub the floor
- Plan your meals for the next week
- Create a grocery list
- Learn to sew
- Lift weights
- Feel your feelings
- Dance!
- Organize the pantry
- Get rid of some old stuff
- Look through picture albums
- Watch a rerun of your favorite show
- Dust off an old exercise tape
- Set some goals
- Take a skills class
- Drink some water
- Test drive a new vehicle
- Build something
- Groom your pet
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